re: RHCP didn't bother plugging in their instruments

I looked some up about this after you pointed it out in the halftime show thread. I saw it suggested that they didn't have a choice about it. The NFL probably forced them to do their pantomime because time is to valuable during halftime, and a mistake in going over time could cost millions. Maybe they were being so dramatic (in particular the guitarist) to attract attention to the fact that they weren't actually playing their instruments.