[mhansen]

I daresay by now users are more familiar with web-based UI paradigms than traditional OS paradigms.

I think they'd spend more time interacting with web-based applications than traditional OS applications.

If that's the case, then Firefox is actually adapting to people's expectation of the UI.

[crazygringo]

I dunno... people still use word-processors, spreadsheets, sometimes e-mail clients...

For me, this still makes as much sense as Excel opening up its preferences as a new spreadsheet, or a 3D rendering program asking you to edit a 3D wireframe to change options. Content is content, application is application -- I don't understand why confusing the two could ever be a good thing.

[idleloops]

While there is room for innovation with web-based UIs, they are just really inconsistent. In fact Firefox sticks out like a sore thumb compared to other apps on my OS. And I find it a real annoyance. That's why there is a niche for a browser like Camino, that feels more native than Firefox on OSX.

When I use MS Windows I really notice this, installers, application control panels, window titles and controls - seem to be all over the place. It's a minefield. Linux desktop suffers this too with different GUI toolkits - QT, GTK etc. There's a part of you that just adapts and gets used to it. But ultimately it's a pain.

Compare the popular web browsers. Despite their convergence, the UI's are quite different.