There is no reason to restrict graphicTitle to externalGraphic symbols.

lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js

@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ OpenLayers.Feature.Vector = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Feature, {
  * graphicZIndex - {Number} The integer z-index value to use in rendering.
  * graphicName - {String} Named graphic to use when rendering points.  Supported values include "circle" (default),
  *     "square", "star", "x", "cross", "triangle".
- * graphicTitle - {String} Tooltip for an external graphic.
+ * graphicTitle - {String} Tooltip when hovering over a feature. Not supported by the canvas renderer.
  * backgroundGraphic - {String} Url to a graphic to be used as the background under an externalGraphic.
  * backgroundGraphicZIndex - {Number} The integer z-index value to use in rendering the background graphic.
  * backgroundXOffset - {Number} The x offset (in pixels) for the background graphic.

lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js

@@ -239,15 +239,6 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
     setStyle: function(node, style, options) {
         style = style  || node._style;
         options = options || node._options;
-        var r = parseFloat(node.getAttributeNS(null, "r"));
-        var widthFactor = 1;
-        var pos;
-        if (node._geometryClass == "OpenLayers.Geometry.Point" && r) {
-            node.style.visibility = "";
-            if (style.graphic === false) {
-                node.style.visibility = "hidden";
-            } else if (style.externalGraphic) {
-                pos = this.getPosition(node);
 
         if (style.graphicTitle) {
             node.setAttributeNS(null, "title", style.graphicTitle);
@@ -262,6 +253,16 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
                 node.appendChild(label);
             }
         }
+
+        var r = parseFloat(node.getAttributeNS(null, "r"));
+        var widthFactor = 1;
+        var pos;
+        if (node._geometryClass == "OpenLayers.Geometry.Point" && r) {
+            node.style.visibility = "";
+            if (style.graphic === false) {
+                node.style.visibility = "hidden";
+            } else if (style.externalGraphic) {
+                pos = this.getPosition(node);
                 if (style.graphicWidth && style.graphicHeight) {
                   node.setAttributeNS(null, "preserveAspectRatio", "none");
                 }

lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js

@@ -207,12 +207,13 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
         options = options || node._options;
         var fillColor = style.fillColor;
 
-        if (node._geometryClass === "OpenLayers.Geometry.Point") {
-            if (style.externalGraphic) {
-                options.isFilled = true;
         if (style.graphicTitle) {
             node.title=style.graphicTitle;
         } 
+
+        if (node._geometryClass === "OpenLayers.Geometry.Point") {
+            if (style.externalGraphic) {
+                options.isFilled = true;
                 var width = style.graphicWidth || style.graphicHeight;
                 var height = style.graphicHeight || style.graphicWidth;
                 width = width ? width : style.pointRadius*2;