ClickZ: Are Usability Experts Any Use?

Sean Carton writes that site managers should not give the final word to the usability ayatollahs. He argues that online browsing is more than a mere utilitarian experience, and should reconcile usability with design. Usability by itself is not a quality that creates value, but rather a way not to destroy value. There's much more to the online experience than the dry ability to accomplish tasks. But, of course, a commercial site that fails to let users reach their goals is worthless, regardless of its beauty.