direct conversion receiver help

as direct receiver remove the problem of image frequency why it is not used widly
instead of heterodyne receiver
what is its disadvantage?
if any one have apractical experience of building it please tell me about it
Thanks in advance
:D

Reduce number of componentd, size and power. In superheterosyne receiver, you need more filters than the direct conversion one.Now a day, the semiconductor techonlogy makes it feasible. There are many good IC company doing the direct conversion chip. We have elaluate one direct conversion board from a companny, it is quite good. the I-Q imbalance is ok.