On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 13:51:39 +1000, Lachlan Hunt
<lachlan.hunt@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> This document explains the reasons why, and gives some good examples.
> http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/2004/xhtml-faq#whyxhtml2 

I've read that; it explains very well the shortcomings of "<img>", but
I can' t find any part that explains the advantages of not making
every image an "<object>".

> I also helps make the source code easier to read, cause there's less
> elements.

It's not at all clear that fewer elements means better readability -
especially when each element has a distinct, clearly defined role in
the former example but the one element triples up to play three roles
in the latter.

> The reason is similar for making every element be able to be a link.

Now I have two mysteries rather than one :-)

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, by the way! Looking back
it looks like this has been in since the second draft, back in
December 2002, so I don't suppose I have much chance of getting it
changed now, but I'll be sad to see such inelegance and bloat in the
final standard.
-- 
  __
\/ o\ Paul Crowley
/\__/ www.ciphergoth.org