Gif files can be animated; I don't know why your tech says it can't be used as anywhere a jpeg/jpg file can be used a gif should be able to as well.
The primary differences in gif's and jpeg's are that gifs can hold animations but can only supply a specific amount of color and is usually a computer generated image; whereby a jpeg is a one frame image (no animations), can hold more color depth and is generally for pictures one would take with a camera.
Short and simple, your tech needs to brush up on his tech, any image can be embedded onto any page of the UBB by editing code (or using the inserts section of the control panel).
