Who’s take on widgets?

widg·et [wij-it] –noun
1. a small mechanical device, as a knob or switch, esp. one whose name is not known or cannot be recalled;
2. something considered typical or representative, as of a manufacturer’s products;

There are no widgets here, but that’s just personal preference (and the starkness is just a reflection of the owner). Some folks actually have a problem with them. Are widgets slowing down the web?

Maybe the bigger question should be whether they add any value to the user/viewer.