Isn't the issue whether or not true business outcomes are achieved through using the software? The question, in my mind, is who is responsible for achieving those true business outcomes. The answer to that question then should inform who should decide whether usability or functionality wins the day. In my experience - both as a client / user of HR technology and a consultant working with businesses to choose appropriate software tools - is that usability makes the most difference to the end business user. Most business users won't use all the bells and whistles that vendors put into the software. And the truth of the matter is, nor will HR or IT superusers. There is a lot of weight put on the "possible use" of features rather than pragmatic, actual use in every day business activities. And when IT / HR people say that "the business wants to do all this stuff with the software", my first question back to them is "to what business end?" Again, what business outcomes are to be achieved through implementation and use of the technology? HR and IT would be so much more effective in this area if they worked with the business to answer this question FIRST, before even considering any HR software.