They might be useful if you already know what they're supposed to look like, but if you've never seen them before they look like ink smudges.

For me, it's a major detractor from something that could have been a great resource. I would love to know more about the breads of the world.

Yeah, I basically can't tell the difference between any of of them.

It will never cease to amaze me how negative the overall comments are on HN.

Depending on one's perspective, it may be taken as negative or an honest feedback. I am from India and already know about all of these 'breads', but the first thought that came to my mind was the same - how useful this article would have been, had the pictures been real ones rather than their cartoon like representations.

Its not a negative comment, its a constructive feedback. If they had real pics of those items I guarantee you that your brain would tell you to go to the nearest Indian restaurant and get eat all that food.

It didn't do that after I googled a few images

Maybe you didnt see the right images.