The original example had a top and bottom spanning all three columns, making the problem fundamentally different than you describe. I would be more interested if you could take that original example in the original post and show how CSS does not run into the problem that is described in the original post.
Further, you test it in Firefox 3. The problem that I see is that in the Real World (TM), I must make sure that the website works on Internet Explorer 6. Most of the problems I encounter with CSS layout involves cross-browser inconsistency.
I do not pretend to be a specialist in front end work; frankly, it is my least favorite part of development. However, I've made an effort to learn CSS layout systems only to go back to tables in projects that someone else isn't doing the work.
The original example in the original post complained about not being able to swap the center and side columns, I didn't feel that the header was relevant. However, I could create additional examples if necessary.
The thing I think a lot of people are missing is that I don't care whose fault it is.
As a designer, I just need my sites to work in the real world (where 1/3 of my traffic is IE6). I'm not placing any blame, but if it doesn't work in IE6 then it doesn't work for me.
Further, you test it in Firefox 3. The problem that I see is that in the Real World (TM), I must make sure that the website works on Internet Explorer 6. Most of the problems I encounter with CSS layout involves cross-browser inconsistency.
I do not pretend to be a specialist in front end work; frankly, it is my least favorite part of development. However, I've made an effort to learn CSS layout systems only to go back to tables in projects that someone else isn't doing the work.