I think they still do.

If helpful, and if not overwhelming, graphics can be very much appreciated by your users. Don't make the graphics files too big for convenient download into your users' browsers, don't make the displayed images too big (too wide, etc) for the "page", and don't waste users' time with unnecessary animations or illustrations. Use good sense and restraint; this is often an area in which "less is more".

My main site, to give an example, contains lessons covering sometimes explicitly graphical ("here's how to draw the graph") material. Graphics are important to my content, sometimes even central to it.

I've striven to keep things to a minimum, though, in display size, file size, and colors, and have received many e-mails from users who express appreciation for the quick download times on my pages, and for the general lack of "cutesy" junk.

On the other hand, though, many of my visitors have expressed explicit thanks for some of my graphics. (Sticky-mail me if you'd like the URL of the animation receiving the most positive responses.)

Judicious graphics, judiciously placed, can be great. Overload can be very, very bad, sending users scrambling toward the "Back" button.

Don't go overboard. Keep the end-user and his needs in mind. And the resulting graphics "load" should be fine. *smile*

Just my opinions, of course; I could be wrong....

Eliz.

I would suggest to use SEO friendly graphic buttons and just be careful about speed.