Tight deadline? Grumpy client? None of that matters when it comes to web standards. I ALWAYS code using current web standards and best practices. I will preach web standards to anyone who will listen. Semantic code using XHTML and CSS makes a lot of sense and saves a whole lot of money. It also makes sites more accessible and more visible to search engines.
There is nothing I can’t do with CSS & XHTML. I can take the most complicated Photoshop mock-ups, slice them up, and recreate them perfectly using CSS & XHTML. i can even make then look the same across all major browsers.
I have no problem stripping table-based layouts of their tables and leaving them with semantic code that makes them more visible to search engines, takes up 1/4 of the server space/bandwidth, and saves time and money when it’s time for a re-design.
I design in Firefox and then use as few hacks
as possible to get sites working properly in Internet Explorer, Safari (usually not a problem), and Opera (2%). I know the ins and outs of cross browser compatability and it’s a big part of any project I am a part of.