>> we end up with mediocrity if we try to >> balance usability and user-experience.

I'd say that's due to flaws in the browsers & languages, rather than problems with combining usability and user-experience?

In trying to simplify the differences between usability and user experience, the originator of this comparison-Baekdal, got the metaphors quite wrong. Comparing freeways to mountain roads is a strange notion giving some mountain roads are dangerous, winding and slow, how is that a good user-experience if you are in a hurry? You must compare apples to apples, mountain road to mountain road, and so on. Using a freeway may be a necessity and no matter how ugly it is, if the road is smooth, the signs are clear, and drivers have enough time to change lanes or drive at a comfortable speed, then the freeway is very user friendly (good usability)which contributes to a good user-experience if you have to take it. Usability is part of user-experience, and is inseparable!