1. You could decide that floating large areas of content is wrong. This means that many multi-column layout options could not be used. You would still be able to lay out columns but you’re options would be limited.

2. You could decide that, at this point in time, floating is one of the main tools at our disposal and that, while you know it is not ideal, it is better than being limited by the alternatives.

The final choice is up to you

“It means Web browsers (and specification authors) need to get details the same when those details shouldn’t even matter.”

“Authors’ dependence on very obscure details of how floats lay out means that those details can’t be improved later”

The devil is always in the details, they always matter

Without the clever people who have been reading and following the progress of CSS standards and dissecting the details ~ “pushing the envelope”, such little details might have gone ignored and everyone might still be using tables and not CSS + Positioning and CSS wouldn’t be as widely accepted as it is.

It’s been a hard slog getting developers to even accept CSS because of the positioning problems, does this kind of thinking suggest those of us who have upheld standards and supported the case FOR CSS in the last 10 years throw our hands up in the air and say we got it wrong, go back to abusing tables instead for positioning because the standards *might* have to be changed/improved and until then CSS really isn’t ready?

I know which evil I’ll be sticking with for now

So I would put it to Mr. Barron: which is the lesser of two evils?

David Baron argues that using floats makes it harder to write browsers. If the major browsers can not agree on how a floated element which overflows it container appears, why does it make writing a browser more difficult. They do not have to apply consistant rules.

David’s second point “Makes it harder to improve Web standards”, different browsers rendering how a floated element which overflows it’s container appears makes it far harder to advance web standards than an overuse of floated elements to correct the problem.

Finally “Reduces pressure for implementation of better technology” states “reduces pressure for standards organizations and browsers to develop such new solutions” no if browser manufactures interpreted the standards the same way the first time (remember the box model) life would be easier for browser manufacturers, standards organizations and the people who write the pages.

Looks like I will be using a lot of harsh language

@Cam: glad wrap maybe, but masking tape? You could do yourself and injury….

Although your way of saying it made me laugh out loud, so you win