Im going to pull you up on semantics here im afraid. I specifically used the word "captivate". If I wanted to question its usefulness or helpfulness I would have maybe used one of those words.

They have a foreground so you can click links, current web browsers do not fully support links in videos.

As for the TED site, I really like how they size up and down the image, yet I find the use of the static image a waste of time. Usually that image doesn't add to who or what is being spoken about. Hence I still feel the video could work there.

I understand why you would feel its a little over the top. But I remember the first time I saw the page, I thought that was over the top.

Yet now im used to it.