I have 20 tester accounts at the moment involving both Mac and PC users in 8 different physical locations. Out of all these test accounts, 3 users (unrelated...3 locations) are unable to upload and given "Error 500 Internal Server Error" notification.
Those users are probably trying to upload files that are to large in terms of file size and/or dimension for your webserver to process. But after all, the error message explains it: it's an "internal server error" - only the server "knows" what went wrong - we don't know, or can't tell for sure. Consult the server's logs. If you can't access them, ask your webhost for support.
I have seen the suggestion of changing-
max_input_time
post_max_size
memory_limit
PHP's LimitRequestBody
but, if I understand correctly, these are found in php.ini and I have host based MySQL... so I don't have acess to that file... or do I?
We can't tell - that's a matter of webserver setup. We can't tell you if your webhost or whoever is in charge of setting up and maintaining a webserver allows you to edit those settings in php.ini. Usually, on shared webhosting, you're indeed not allowed to change any of those settings. You can only be sure if you ask the right person: the one who is in charge of webserver administration - that is again (you guessed it already) your webhost.
What you have asked has been asked many times over, and it's understandable that newbies who don't understand webserver details ask us, the creators of coppermine such questions. But the answer remains the same - it's just whishfull thinking to ask us. We don't know, as we can't know what the cause for the error message is nor if you're allowed to edit php.ini nor what values you should enter nor what your end users did wrong. Sorry, definitely beyond the scope of what support for coppermine can do. Definitely a case for webserver support (if there is any in your webhosting contract). This is usually the point where people on free or budget webhosting give up. If that is not the case for you (i.e. if you have a decent webhosting contract), it can't hurt to ask your webhost what actually lead to the internal server errors and if they would be willing to increase server-sided limitations (usually the sheer amount of memory is the main culprit).
You're welcome to let us know what your webhost said, but please understand that we simply can not tell you more.