I agree that there should never have been a ban in the first place. It went along with other attempts by Bush and company to conduct government in secret.
The lifting of the ban was the event that the media was really trying to document. Once it became business as usual, the number of photographers dropped. As long as such images are respectful, though, I think they do show us the human cost of this war.
I grew up during the Vietnam Era, when the names of the fallen from our high school were read out during morning announcements, and live images of soldiers shooting at others and soldiers being wounded were shown along with dinner. I think that let all Americans understand the cost of that war. I suspect if we did the same with Iraq and Afghanistan more folks would see what is going on.
I live in a military town so I know large numbers of people who have been in the Middle East or are there now or who will be shipping out soon. Thus, it is very high in my consciousness. I don’t know if the same is true for those who live in non-military communities.
I do know that I stop and think every time I pass the house down the street with the Gold Star banner in the front window.