[Usability] Situations with Lack of Button Labels

[Jacob Beauregard <jake13jake comcast net>]

I can understand why the GIMP wouldn't have button labels, it takes up 
more screen real estate than the GIMP would really be able to handle, 
but I can't understand the justification for Ekiga not having button 
labels. Can anyone clue me in? Does using tooltips exclusively when 
screen space isn't exactly limited justifiable? I've filed a bug for 
Ekiga, because I really don't believe it's justifiable, but I'm getting 
the whole why not stick with tooltips in response.

I think it would be a good idea, at least in the case of the GIMP, that 
there be an alternative labeling system, a single bold text field that 
would take the place of all of the button labels, and would change to 
the label of the button that is being hovered over (and in the case that 
no label is being hovered over, revert to the selected button's label. I 
mean, it's certainly a way that a lot of games handle inventory/weapons 
menus.

i.e.
-----------------------------------
Selected Label Text
____________________
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
|______|______|______|
----------------------------------

Where the buttons following the selected label text are unlabeled.