This isn't related to the design, though. Although for technical reasons I do prefer to host sites I design (and usually vice versa).
Not quite fully DIY, and for some editing a template can be daunting.Readily available templates
Yes, you can get good free web design software (see Nvu for example), however if someone gave me a hammer for free that wouldn't make me a joinerFree web design software from companies like Voda Host
The same can be said for a professionally made CMS site.DJ can update it themselves whenever needed
You say outlay, I say investment!Very little outlay compared to a pro built site.
Inside every old person, is a young person wondering 'What The Hell Happened'. Tempus Fugit
Disco 4 Hire
I got a 60 quid package which Bellshill uses and I think its alright.
The main thing for doing it DIY is I keep changing what I want and I'd drive a designer nuts and bump up the price.
I have to say too Ive had loads more enquries using this package than the free one I had with bt.
Not sure if its because I worded the meta tags differently but Im not complaining. Free hosting and more enquries.
Now admittedly around the turn of the century I did it for a living for around 12 months... so my websites are still of that era, i.e. built with HTML, frames and tables, primarily; however some of my later ones have been made using a template.
They all work well for me, are picked up by search engines, are all '2-Clicks Good' and give the client the info they need - why pay more when you don't need to? That's the same philosophy as spending thousands on a speaker system (e.g. Bose!?!) when the client is just as impressed by a set of actives costing a tenth of the price.
http://www.firedance.biz
http://www.firesound.co.uk
http://www.rockdisco.co.uk (Work In Progress!)
http://www.bump-n-grindhouse.co.uk
www.cbentertainments.co.uk thats home made on my own server.