“You do realize that Prior to 1455 it was very expensive to copy Bibles/ books and that most people did not own one. I am sure that you are also aware that at that time the vast majority of the population was illiterate and that the use of Art objects was a good way to convey biblical truths to an illiterate population.”
Your point is fairly historically accurate - though it was the common practice of New Testament churches to devote time to public reading of the Scriptures - books and letters and passages - as they were taught.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Apostle Paul Romans 10:17, inspired words of God
Substituting man-made art or idols for the inspired and holy Word of God doesn’t lead to salvation. When it does, you end up with syncretistic religion - as we see throughout the world, particularly cultures that combine catholicism with animism. You see catholics burying statues of saints by their mailboxes to sell their homes. You see the introduction of pagan customs declared to be tradition and equal to God’s Holy Word.
The more important issue is that today we do have God’s Holy Word available abundantly and authoritatively.
COUNCIL OF TOULOUSE - 1229 A.D Canon 14. We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; unless anyone from motive of devotion should wish to have the Psalter or the Breviary for divine offices or the hours of the blessed Virgin; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books.
Source: Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe, Edited with an introduction by Edward Peters, Scolar Press, London, copyright 1980 by Edward Peters, ISBN 0-85967-621-8, pp. 194-195, citing S. R. Maitland, Facts and Documents [illustrative of the history, doctrine and rites, of the ancient Albigenses & Waldenses], London, Rivington, 1832, pp. 192-194.
The Council of Tarragona of 1234, in its second canon:
“No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned lest, be he a cleric or a layman, he be suspected until he is cleared of all suspicion.” (-D. Lortsch, Historie de la Bible en France, 1910, p.14.)
Does this include the protestant practices of snake handling, priestesses, and homosexual wedding ceremonies? (Baptists: http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-01/iowa-baptist-church-open-gay-weddings)
(Methodists: http://www.mindny.org/2011/10/methodist-group-to-perform-gay-weddings/)
(Anglican: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2130668/Male-priests-marry-in-Anglican-churchs-first-gay-wedding.html)