Does PowerPoint even make sense anymore?

“My customers don’t want to see a bunch of slides.  They tune out almost immediately.”
“I don’t even bother with PowerPoint anymore.  I just have a conversation with my clients.” 
I hear comments like these every day from salespeople and customers alike.  It’s not surprising really.  Over 30 million PowerPoint presentations are created every day.  And with over 6 million teachers using slides in the classroom, customers have already seen their fair share of presentations by the time they enter the business world.  It’s understandable if we’ve all grown a bit weary of the whole genre.
Lately, I’ve seen a real backlash against PowerPoint or any type of slide-based presentation.  Perhaps it’s a result of years of being subjected to poorly designed and executed decks. Or it’s the endless lists of bullet points, dizzying animations, and stock photos that have led to a swelling rebellion. TED Talks may even have fueled a growing