[pbreit]

HTML can be +much+ more effective than text.

[alextingle]

...at distracting and confusing readers.

If your goal is to distract and confuse people, by getting them to click on your ads and buy your products, then use HTML e-mail. If you want to communicate clearly, then stop worrying about layout & typography and concentrate on the words you are writing.

[pbreit]

> If you want to communicate clearly, then stop worrying about layout & typography

That's just wrong. Layout and typography are important elements to clear communication.

[alextingle]

Right, because when people are talking to you, all you hear is an incomprehensible stream of blah, blah, blah.

[joesb]

And people use single tone of voice, never emphasize their voice, and never use hand gesture, right?

[pbreit]

So do you think a Steve Jobs presentation would be as effective audio-only?

[alextingle]

It would be preferable. Does that count?