Neil, just on layout - interactivity issues, take a look at www.forces.ca (it's the CF recruiting / PR site). It uses some of the marketing best practices (video, motion, iconic pictures on news stories, etc.). The dark slate grey they use as a background is actually designed to highlight their message - "Fight Fear". It is also fully browser compatible. As a site, it's message is conveyed using every component of the layout, colour scheme and graphic.