I never really thought about hiding those particular widgets, but after thinking about it I understand why. If you study where eyes alight, or first focus on web pages, it makes sense to limit distractions that take away from what you are trying to convey. We see the same thing in billboard advertisements or direct mail, where a minimalistic design and key statement are often better than a busy graphic or plethora of information.

Did you figure this out? Due to the lack of response, I'm guessing it just might not be possible(people are really good at responding to inquiries here from my lurking experience). Maybe curtail the effects by tweaking your own design? Good luck!