Not a screenreader user here, but a sighted user browsing via internet explorer. And, uh, wow, I learned something today. I've never noticed that star before and it has no meaning for me. Visually, it conveys "sticky" NOT AT ALL. And since I can't see the alt text since I can see the image...I had no idea it had a THING to do with sticky posts. (Seriously, a mini post-it note I would understand. Why are stars supposed to be sticky? What's the link? I ... really do not get it. Like, confounded to the point of being frustrated by the confusion.)

So, if I clicked into those journals, I would immediately recognize denises sticky post as sticky (YAY USING YOUR WORDS) and, um, not even realize there was anything special about zvi's unless I noticed the lack of date showing. Which, well, I wouldn't if I weren't over-analyzing to compare. I might assume it was a sticky because of the topic, tho.

I think allowing complete removal of the text is a usability mess, frankly. I think the picture, and its alt text, and everything is...pointless. If it helps others, great. If the text annoys others, it needs work. But it's garbage pixels with null meaning to me. I never block images that small, so unless Dreamwidth is up but the image somehow failing to serve, the alt text will never appear to me, either.