About Sprites

[MrApples]

I've read about CSS Sprites, a method of website optimization in which images are stitched together in the same image to save HTTP requests, which delivers faster pages.

With that in mind, - In Theory - If all the images on a web page we're stitched together automatically into the same image, and displayed through use of divs and positioning (to only show the part wanted), would that speed up webpages? Would it put more on a graphics processor? Would it slow down the parsing?

I assume it is best suitable for icons and extras, but just in theory.