It's not really like the save icon. The padlock for https is like the save icon, because it is a metaphor for a certain interesting state. Http, on the other ha

It's not really like the save icon. The padlock for https is like the save icon, because it is a metaphor for a certain interesting state. Http, on the other hand, doesn't tell you anything except that you're not on https (or ftp, etc). So you don't need to be told about it. Suppose the icon for your email program has a badge on it with an unread count. I'm suggesting that 'http:// http:// is kind of like keeping that badge there with a zero when you have no emails.