I have done understand the button element

I have done understand the button element, and it's really nice. But it really is more for menu bars and so forth. It removes the standard circle/dot radio button as well as the 'check' in a checkbox. It doesn't need exactly the same goals.
It isn't complicated to development those fields, but you can find plug-ins in existence which do it in your case. As such there's a need. jQuery UI seems to function as centralized standard for things. It ought to be practiced since it is one of the simpler more established repetitious tasks. Themeroller support would also tie everything together very smoothly.