Whenever you feel it's right for the piece you're doing.

Thank goodness we've gotten away from using ALL the transitions and effects we have access to all in the same piece.

The amount and variety of transitions they pack into every NLE never cease to astonish.

I use only cuts and plain dissolves 99% of the time, and I use the gausian blur for some photo transitions, but that is about it.

Same here for general footage - less is more, etc, etc . . . overuse of transitions and effects in a video is akin to using fourteen different fonts in a document - nasty!

The two places I do frequently use some of the more whacky transitions (and effects) are for title sequences and for bringing in/taking out lower thirds and other graphics or text overlays.

On the occasional corportate video where I use lower thirds, like you Ian I will use linear wipes, etc., on the lower thirds and the text on them.

Yeah the only time I use transitions other than fades or straight cuts is for lower thirds. Often use the linear wipe for that. I did however use a mix of transitions with solid colours on an intro once. Used some of the 3D ones and it came out quite nice. I dont think you could ever use them with videos though, only graphics.

Cuts, dissolves and fades (whichever is appropriate) IMO they still work the best.

Once in a while if the material calls for it I'll use something else but 99.9% are cut's, dissolves and fades.