Some imessage settings are greyed out on macbook pro

Question

MacBook Pro
17-inch, Late 2011
OS X10.9 (Mavericks)
Some iMessage settings in the General tab are greyed out:
Buddy list:
Account Status:
When I return:
When Switching users:
- iMessage is successfully setup on iPhone, iPad and MacBook;
- I am the administrator and only user of the laptop;
- I can change all other settings in iMessage and system-wide;
- The problem is not affecting the functionality of iMessaging - these are privacy issues;
- These settings are not offered on my iPhone or iPad, so their settings are not restricting me;
- I don't know if the problem existed before upgrading to Mavericks;
- I checked all other System Preferences for settings that may be causing the problem - found none (doesn't mean they aren't there).
Clearly this is not a crisis situation - it's "only" iMessage which I've chose to enable and will disable if necessary. It's a control issue - Apple has it, I want it back! I have a HUGE problem with any entity dictating - then locking me out of - the settings on my devices, deciding what personal and activity info I share, and with whom. Thanks in advance for helping.

Answer 1

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, or by corruption of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled on some models, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models.  The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of steps 1 and 2.