HI LORD NITE!
Actually the tables may very well work. The .pl files are extremely flexible which means that you can set the parameters of the board's layout. I didn't get a chance to test this out but you may want to try something to this nature.
If you noticed on the side where you have "show_public_names", "rating_line" and so forth, it will stretch down along with the post_body. The TD for both columns are dependent upon one another...Which means you can extend it (within the same TD) to another TR. By adding another row for the post_body you now can set the post body to be valigned at the top while the author_extra, ip_wording (and whatever else you have) to be valigned to the bottom. Now regardless if the member has a sig or not the post body will now stretch to the bottom without leaving a gap.
You can experiment by taking away the author_extra additions in the coding and you'll find that the text body will now be flushed from top to bottom. I've tried this part out and it did work.
Now when you place another row in the post_body you will have a gap where the public_names (left column) are displayed (either at the top or bottom whichever you valigned). Place a "rowspan" command to "2" in the TD or TR tags. By doing this, your left column will now stretch along with the post_body. I hope this works and if you want me to clarify some things please do so. Let us know how it went and GL.
THANKS!
PrimeTime
