Consumed => “Adopting A Responsive WordPress Theme Is More Than Install-And-Go” by Ben Gremillion on Smashing Magazine.

http://wp.smashingmagazine.com/2012/07/26/adopting-responsive-wordpress-theme

=> My value add (i.e., left a comment)…

While not exactly WordPress-centric, good stuff. Thanks Ben.

A couple things to add:

You said: “But a better option would be to consider using a device-agnostic approach to Web design focusing on content rather than device properties.” As well as, “If the secondary content is unnecessary, how should it disappear?

I think this raises a very interesting question. That is, why do responsive at all? Wait! Let me explain. That is, why not just imagine the smallest device / screen size and build for that and only that? Yeah it sounds a bit crazy but let me finish. My point is (and being the minimalist that I prefer to be), secondary content that is unnecessary doesn’t become necessary just because there’s real estate at a wider width. Either content is important, or it isn’t, correct? So perhaps the two / three/ four column layout model – much like flashing text and crazy animated gifs – should be a thing of the past?

To this I add, there’s a UX consistency factor. Should a user / visitor really have to learn and know two versions of every site? That hardly sounds user friendly to me. Unless there’s a law that says every pixel hhas to be used then I honestly don’t think a single “small screen optimized” site is wrong. It can’t be wrong. There’s no rule / law to break, right?

I realize this question I’ve tabled is somewhat philosophical / theoretical. None the less it seem to me that it’s worth discussing. To some extent it often feels like someone said, “Responsive…” and no one stopped to ask, “Oh really? Why?”.

On a side note, I’ve seen WP themes marketed as responsive and then use hover navs. Kinda funny, yes?