[thelist] Image maps - Do I have a bad feeling about them for a reason?

[Jon Hughes]

Hey list,

I am going to be required to create an image map... I see no
alternative, it's either that, or a million image slices and tables... I
chose the image map.

I feel an apprehension in my gut though, and I'm wondering if there's a
reason for that.  Maybe I heard something bad about image maps a long
time ago, maybe it's because I haven't seen an image map on a modern
site, maybe it's because the pizza I had last night was left out too
long... I'm not sure.

I am wondering - do you know of a valid reason NOT to use an imagemap?
My first indicators are: search engines probably ignore them, and it
looks like thick, heavy tag soup, but other than that, it's all fine and
dandy.  Accessibility problems, maybe?

p.s. the reason I have to use an Image map is because I am converting a
magazine page to a webpage - Please don't tell me that they aren't
supposed to be webpages, because I am WELL aware - I have been
contracted to do this, and the client wants it, so I am going to
deliver.

Thank You,

Jon Hughes 
"Perfection is not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is
nothing more to take away."