It seems to me that the 'orpan' list as it stands is useless because it doesn't track references to the image by direct url in the english wikipedia, and it doesn't track ANY reference to the image in any other wikipedia either...
I agree; the "orphaned image" list is useless, and in any case I don't see that much of a problem with a useful image that isn't currently linked to an article, especially if it is known that it is in fact free--and image is, in a sense, an article in its own right.
I'll make a note on the orphaned image page to that effect.