If 3DC is following this thread I would highly suggest that you create 3 new CSS templates in addition to the templates you already have, especially after seeing the sites bristweb has done. All of them would be more or less the same with one having a left column and center panel, another being with a left and right column and a main center panel, and lastly one with just a center panel. The header and navigation could be the same for all and these would be considered more advanced templates that require some CSS knowledge to work and definitely require customization.
The benefits to 3DC and users would be:
- Faster loading pages thanks to streamlined code (less bandwidth for 3DC to pay for)
- Offering something I have not seen anywhere else, 3DC has many unique features and I this would be one more. Imagine how many CSS savvy designers are out there that would love a 3DC level solution with a CSS front end ready to customize!
- A site that is very easy to completely change with minimal effort by editing the CSS file only.
- Future proof, keep in mind that tables are going away slowly and will hopefully continue to do so, some day if 3DC only offers table based designs it will be looked at as old technology, no matter how great the features behind the cart.
- Possibly better SEO
- More I can't think of right now....
I understand that dealing with the browsers is a small issue but with one code base you could constantly be addressing the cross browser issues (really just IE) and updating the templates when problems are reported would eventually leave you with templates that work across all platforms.
The only possible drawback I see would be that some may go this route instead of designing their own. On the contrary these templates would require editing right off the bat and I still feel users would pay for a CSS design job just as quickly as a standard tables design.
Any thoughts 3DC?????