Is there any chance that the browser plugins could have some playback and other basic controls built into them, similar to Quicktime, Windows Media Player, and most other media players that I am aware of.
The controls would be enabled by default, but could be disabled in the object's properties (ie: controls="false").
Unfortunately, VideoLAN seems to depend on Javascript if the user wishes to make any changes to the player, such as pausing, stopping, or rewinding it. I want to avoid using JavaScript for any essential function. I think that server-side coding should be used for the serious stuff, and JavaScript should only be used for user convenience.