What are some advantage and disadvantages when using powerpoint as far as slide templates, clipart, slide layouts, color and animation schemes?

The biggest advantage is that non-technical people can create basic presentations quickly and easily in PowerPoint.

That simplicity also has the down side - Presentations can only have so much complexity if they are done in PPT.

Advantage is that you can make professional presentations in a short time.

Disadvantage is that you need to read or understand the options before you can fully utilize them..

I find many of the animation options not sophisticated for what I often need. It is not simple to create complex movements that I sometimes want to do to show physical phenomena.

This is a BIG downside for me.

The upside is that I can easily create a comprehensive presentation (albeit with no decent animation) in a few hours.