I have to admit that as they currently stand I don't really see the point of the webapps.
I was wondering why I couldn't find much online about them until I experienced them. Then I understood once I installed 12.10 -- at this time they seem to me to be nothing but glorified bookmarks that want a spot on my launcher.
I understand the argument some of you have made that these things belong in a browser -- but then what is the point? I could get a gmail notifier for the tray (yes, it's not really called the tray, yadda yadda) years ago. And Ubuntu could certainly provide one now that doesn't require installation of a "webapp".
I'd love to see webapps be something awesome, but at the moment they seem only to be confusingly pointless.
Take the HUD as a counter-example --
With webapps I was excited about them until I tried them.
With the HUD, I didn't really get it until I tried it -- and now I love it! I don't use it all the time, but when I do I'm *really* happy that it's there.