Fair enough.
Would it help if the ani-gifs were softened or faded from the image change? Or maybe the timing could be slowed down. Maybe both.
The layout
is hard to update and awkward. The benefit of that particular arrangement is that once the ani-gifs are loaded, they are re-used throughout the site. There has to be some compromise between allowing the use of space for ads and simplifiing the layout.
The goal is to have something with a distinct look and at the same time something that a wide range of users will appreciate. If I have to cut it down to something boring like the rest of the sites around here, I'll just can the whole idea and do something else.
At what point is the site ready for prime time? As bad as it is from a technical standpoint now, it's getting much better at every revision. Every time I make it better, the old version seems that much worse. There has to be a point that the actual content is added and I accept what the layout is, regardless of how it rates with the industry.
Knowing that it really needs work makes that harder.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. There is no doubt your suggestions are rational. The questions is, can I get my target audience to visit regularly with minimal changes?
Maybe there should be some disclaimer to keep the webdevs from crying too.
