I agree that the shape isn't going to do a lot, but I believe the "trick" was that the underlying button could actually get the job done despite the overlay! I've only ever used the idea when I wanted to get attention or tell a user NOT to click the button!

eg like that damn paperclip, put a shape over the appropriate button to get the user's attention!

I've got IE5.5 running, the STOP here looks like an M&M ( or a Smartie if you aren't American! ) I'd love to put large real STOP signs on ALL my apps for the STOP button, but NOT have to re_write every button, so a STOP SIGN object that acted like a coat of paint would be very useful!

best programmer/instructor I ever met spend the entire presentation teaching how to avoid doing things twice, how to simplify life! An interface with only a couple of buttons and big shapes to indicate STOP or whatever is currently available makes sense to me!

Also great for multi language apps too!

Mike