@SnowBord
On point 1:
Just about the only thing that tells you that there is a button in Windows is that you know the general location for it. With a quick glance, it is impossible to differ between buttons and ordinary text/imagery.
Sure, it is a kind of direct feedback, but the only feedback you get is a confirmation that the mouse pointer is over the button in question. And that can easily be accomplished by a slight change of texture or color to the button.
If clutter is to be reduced, it is better to create discrete buttons that still look like buttons.
Finally, we live in a physical world and should be governed cognitively by that world. Does your keyboard buttons appear as buttons only when you have your fingers poised over them?
Oh, and to make things clearer, I do have studies of HCI and cognitive science in my CV. :-)
