A Must Read

"affect, which is inexplicably linked to attitudes, expectations and motivations, plays a significant role in the cognition of product interaction…the perception that affect and cognition are independent, separate information processing systems is flawed"

Absolutely, common sense really All undeniable.

However this is separate from that type of argument that runs along the lines of graphic designers running amok with little care for the actual site function or content but more concerned for their 'Art'

It's the little touches and flourishes that set a site off and to ignore those is not doing anyone any favours.