[jkoberg]

They had to add settings to turn that stuff off because it makes people woozy. "cute" design with no user goal has collateral damage.

[wyattpeak]

Sure, and colour television made TV worse for the colourblind.

The mere fact that something is worse for some people isn't a sufficient argument. The fact that they haven't removed it entirely suggests that it nevertheless creates a net improvement in customer opinion.

Also I reject your swipe - aesthetics is a valid goal. Functionality is not the only measure of a system.