Android :: Desktop Icons / Widgets And Wallpapers Chew Up Battery?

I have a G1, love it, but it has a wimpy battery as many of us know. I have been wondering if widgets, desktop icons and even the choice of wallpaper, or picture that is used for the desktop background make any real difference in battery life. No matter how I use the phone, the display is always the main or at least major component of battery usage.

I read on an android website that desktop widgets do tax the battery and it was also suggested that having all three desktops full of icons also does so. Lastly, I was thinking that a black desktop ( I took a picture of a piece of black paper ) would use the least battery because the screen is not producing any light. Any input on these things ? If it would give appreciably better battery life, I would black out the desktops as I have done and not have any icons or widgets.