The best replacement for icons is symbols.

The best alternatives to icons are rated as following:
★★★★★  symbols
★★★★★  taskbar
★★★★  start menu
★★★  thumbnails
★★★  logos
★★★  images
★★  avatars
★  horror icons
★  start menu xp
★  idols
★  bash
★  graphics
★  buttons
★  ios 7
  statues
  cerrybelle
  traditional icons
  start bar

Your alternative for icons is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about icons, one probably shouldn't forget about winterboard.

Other search terms related to icons and their ratings are:
★★★★★ winterboard
★ theme
You have in mind a companion for icons and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of icons in all years. Click on graph for more.
icons
symbols
taskbar