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Another point to consider: I think regular users prefer a bit of textures, gradients and real-life counterparts. It gives the UI a more friendly appearance.

Never forget we're just monkeys.

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Yes - if you watch non-techie people use tech, often the biggest obstacle is just starting to use the thing. Then when they do, their persistent fear clouds their ability to learn/use the thing well. This makes me think that approachability is one of the biggest problems to overcome in UI.

Those thing give UI something called affordance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance

It's pretty much the modern equivalent of the argument for always underlining links to communicate that it can be clicked.

Dustin Curtis's flat approach to buttons and links is to use rounded borders: http://svbtle.com. This will probably be how buttons will - and should - work in a flat design.

On the underline thing. While its not a need to have, it helps me recognize links without thinking.

It's always a great rule of thumb. Especially with touch devices that obviate :hover-based signalling.

> Dustin Curtis's flat approach to buttons and links is to use rounded borders: http://svbtle.com

Of course, they're so dim that I can barely see them at all... ><

Related word: "acutance"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acutance

That word is worth knowing. Thank you.

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