I disagree. Where website have a variety of different potential types of user, it can be useful to explicitly describe those different types of users, their needs and goals. Calling them Bob or Mary, can just be useful shorthand and avoid segments getting forgotten about.
In speccing and QA, I've always included a section on 'Works for Mary? Works for Bob?' etc. It's not rocket science and shouldn't be stupidly glossy in my opinion. But initial agreement can really help functional design.
I think the two are fairly closely linked. In my mind, each persona is essentially a group of user roles collected together and given a explanatory biography and a fake moustache
In speccing and QA, I've always included a section on 'Works for Mary? Works for Bob?' etc. It's not rocket science and shouldn't be stupidly glossy in my opinion. But initial agreement can really help functional design.