I NOW USE A THICK SOLID LINE (BLUE FOR UP,RED FOR DOWN) INSTEAD OF BARS OR CANDLESTICKS. THIS FREES UP THE SCREEN AREA FOR OTHER INDICATORS WHICH MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR ANY LOSS OF INFO FROM NOT HAVING CANDLESTICKS.
I hate going to bars that have candles. But for trading, I think Nisson did a good job in "Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques" to add a few visual techniques to the basics of a chart. So except for the longer term charts I use candles. Long term, a line does the trick.
If candles are so good then why are all of these Japenese banks in trouble? Ask any one who has traded on a global institutional desk. Those guys in Tokyo are the biggest pickoff around.
Like the easy read of open and close price on candles. Magna [nickname] had a good reason for barcharts,but personally found it more helpful to stick with candles. Don't remember the reason,but remember he had a good point when i checked it out on the barcharts .
this is what i've found too. although i still look at candles sometimes too, but only black and white candles. colored candles tend to illicit more of an emotional response from me.
i still use candlesticks sometimes, but i agree with you totally. lately i've been changing the colors. no longer are they green and red.