Demo slide sequence versus demo video

I get this question a lot when designing presentations for technology startups: "Hey, can you embed our demo video into the presentation?" I almost always try to avoid this:
  • Embedding videos always triggers Murphy's law: on-stage technology fail
  • As a presenter it is impossible to control the pace at which a story in a video is told
I prefer to go low-tech and create a sequence of slides that explains the technology innovation step by step with big arrows and markers highlighting what goes on. Sometimes I even use screen captures from the video as source material. The presenter can explain things in his own style, slowing down if the audience wants to (and without having to fear technology issues).