I would hope that CZ keeps perspective on the use of images. Appropriately used images can convey a great deal more information than text alone, but look at (or preferably don't) the number of webpages where the designer became more concerned with appearance than information.
The Other Place emphasizes that good articles have images, but I wonder sometimes. I heavily edited an article on the Single Integrated Operating Plan for nuclear warfare. Some graphics, presenting graphs of weapons effects, were informative. I am far less convinced that pictures of missiles and airplanes gave useful information. Anyway, isn't a photograph of a stealth bomber sort of a contradiction in terms?
Did you read WW Holmes book "Double edged secrets"?
He was a contemporary of Robert Heinlein, who had also had to leave the USN during the 1930s.
He became an engineering professor in Hawaii. But he was recalled to the Navy prior to Pearl Harbor, to take a desk job that would free up an officer who was capable of active service. It is an interesting book, he found himself drawn into the intelligence war.
Late in the war part of his duties included preparing little booklets telling GIs what to expect on the Islands they were invading. One island had a colorful little snake that was deadly poisonous. They found a colourful picture of this snake, and included it in the booklet for this Island. Afterwards he decided this was a mistake. During the entire invasion no one encountered one of these snakes. But all the GIs were looking for them. And, if I recall correctly, he thought keeping their eyes peeled for the colorful poisonous snake had distracted them from paying the right amount of attention to more likely, realistic dangers.
Apropos of stealth visibility, there was an airshow some years ago, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where they were to have had an F-117 on ground display. For some logistical reason, the plane wasn't available, and some organizers had an inspiration. They roped off an area, put up a sign saying "Stealth Aircraft", and posted armed guards.
Spectators would wander by, and nod appreciatively about the invisibly technology.
Eventually, conscience struck the organizers, and they hung up an empty flight suit with a sign: "Stealth Pilot".
For some reason this reminds me of an anecdote from a nautical history mailing list I used to be on. One guy told the story of his favourite American History professor, who had to teach American History 101. I think he must have been used to this question. One Freshman asked:
"Why were so many Civil War battles fought in National Parks?"He replied:
"Ah. Wide open spaces; lots of free parking."
