Yes - I agree completely with what you say.
I added yesterday to the article more verbal descriptions
of the video picture where the still doesn't show some
characteristics very well. The frame-grabs are useful
for comparative color, sharpness, near-dark handling,
sharpening edge-effects, etc., but may not show very
well vertical line rendering problems, edge effects
with focus change, some grain effects, etc. The JPG
compression was the same for all, and chosen so as not
to significantly affect image quality (the greatest
effect was around the yellow identifier labels). Oddly,
though, seeing the same-location edited-together
video bits often showed less difference between some
camcorders than the stills did...
This, BTW, was offered not as a definitive statement
on the performance of the various camcorders covered,
but as a service for those who have no access at all
to these before buying. My advice is always: if at all
possible, do not make a purchase decision based on a
review - you can tell more in a few minutes with a
piece of gear in hand than any review can tell you.
A review can alert you about things to check out,
though, if it is not just mfgr. PR in disguise (as
most print reviews are, alas...).

On Fri, 24 Dec 1999 09:55:33 -0400, kjones@dcs.com (kj) wrote:
>I have to add, these jpg(!) still grabs on websites are all well and good,
>but should be used with a *grain of salt* when evaluating a video camera.
>Bottom line - quick and dirty, accessible, better than nothing... But,
>viewing footage closely on a studio monitor best represents what
>these cameras are primarily designed to produce - video. Find a way
>to do it if you're considering a purchase, and decide what looks best
>to you.

>In article <3862de75.8824852@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu>, d_ruether@hotmail.com wrote:
>> You can find comparison frame-grabs from several 3-chip
>> camcorders and a couple of one-chippers on my web
>> site (look under "I babble" for the camcorder comparison
>> article). With good light, a good one-chipper with a still
>> subject can look about as good as some three-chippers,
>> but when the camera and/or subject are moved, you see
>> more obvious "stair-stepping" with most one-chip cameras
>> (though with some 3-chip camcorders using "pixel-offset",
>> the "stair-stepping" on near vertical lines can be just
>> about as noticeable as it is on the one-chippers...
>> [the GL-1 is one example]).