As for the merits of the assignment, I think that in an online course, something like this could be very beneficial. It may be excruciating for the people who chose online learning specifically to escape the visual presence, but it definitely makes you feel more a part of the group. It is hard to connect words with a person when all you have is a nickname and a picture. Seeing a person when they talk allows you to get a better feel for who they really are through the non-verbal cues they leave. It also gives people the chance to tell about themselves in a way that is not necessarily connected to a course question or discussion.
I'm not sure if I prefer a pre-recorded profile or a Zoom style video conference where we all introduce ourselves in a more spontaneous and natural way. On one hand, in a profile you can prepare what you want to say and be succinct. On the other hand, you just say what is on your mind and often feed off of what the person(s) before you may have said. The latter can end up taking a lot of time if you have a classroom of talkers!
All in all, this was a valuable experience both in teaching and learning.