I just reread the essay, and I saw that Tufte answers one of my questions in the conclusion. He says that Powerpoint should be used for low-resolution videos and pictures that can't be reproduced in handouts. Okay. I agree with that.
I have a new question. Tufte criticizes Powerpoint for forcing people to simplify whatever they're trying to say. What's wrong with simplification? "Simplifying" and "dumbing down" are not synonyms. Maybe this just shows that I'm stupid, but I think it's a good idea to use simple wording to express ideas. If you simplify your ideas well (without generalizing), you'll be able to express your ideas more clearly. People can spend more time thinking about your ideas, rather than trying to figure out what you're trying to say.
(although, I shouldn't be talking... I ramble on and on when I don't really have anything to say.)
