The problem lies in people using background-image as the background of fluid design elements where it acts as an illustration with semantic content. Otherwise,

The problem lies in people using background-image as the background of fluid design elements where it acts as an illustration with semantic content. Otherwise, it's OK to use as a decorative background. In the case of buttons, it might or might not make sense, depending on each use. I think the problem is frameworks shoving it all in the same place because "an image is an image is an image", which they shouldn't be doing.