You're spot on. Transitions can easily resemble a gratuitous 80's guitar solo. A window need not preform a corkscrewing swan dive into the dock every time it'

You're spot on. Transitions can easily resemble a gratuitous 80's guitar solo. A window need not preform a corkscrewing swan dive into the dock every time it's minimized. But I think that as developers you and I are privy to the game behind the scenes. I think of GUI garnishment like stage props in a play. A playwright would not need the sounds of hoofs, the cries of men and the clanging of swords to know that the Battle of Agincourt is raging on stage - Just as a developer doesn't need to know that pushing a button triggered a state change - But someone who's never read Shakespeare - or in our case someone who's never written software - would find them very elucidating. Though like you said, the key is to preform these special effects with taste and meaning.