Anyone else think the sleep indicator light should be solid when the computer is on?

Solid = Screen turned off or lid closed and computer not in sleep mode. It tells your computer is still running.
Variating luminosity (lid closed or not) = Computer in sleep mode

When you turn off the backlight, the LCD is still powered, you can see it if you direct light on it, you will still see your applications.

 

Your problem is you don't use your computer like a normal person TBH.

The light will come on if the display goes to sleep to show you it is still running and if the computer goes to sleep it will pulse. It makes no sense to turn your backlight off and walk away from the computer leaving it idle.
System Prefs>Energy Saver

Personally I would hate if the light was on when the computer was on, that's what the giant bright screen is for. Otherwise just let the display go to sleep after 10mins of inactivity if you want to save power when it is running and put the computer to sleep when you are not using.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was an app to put the display to sleep with one click instead of you turning down the brightness manually if you wanted to go that route.

 

Actually, that's exactly what it's indicating. Your hard disc and screen have been shut down (go to your system preferences > Energy Saver to view the settings for this) and the light comes on to indicate that the computer is not shut down, but has suspended itself.

Why are you turning off the screen and backlight and walking away?

 

There is actually a really handy keyboard shortcut: Command-Option-Eject. I use it all the time

 

Anyone else think the sleep indicator light should be solid when the computer is on?

My eMac's is.

But seriously, is it really that much of a hassle? I never had a problem with it on my iBook...

 

God no!!

I have my laptop on at night playing audiobooks. I don't want the search power light on all the time.