My head hurts after reading that Dave.

So a question, if XHTML isn't working "properly" or people are using it incorrectly, why the push for XHTML validated files?

Perhaps I should just stick to the HTML 4.01 that I know works?

I don't know. I do think that I'll put my closing tag back in, as that makes "sense" to me. Even though the page works without it.
I do need to get my test box up and running again and run the page through some other browsers to make sure it displays properly.
Too much to think about, too early in the morning... need more caffiene.

Thanks!