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My recent experimentation with some new hosts has solidified my existing love for Cpanel/WHM. In my opinion, that is the absolute best control panel / server manager combo in the hosting market. Plesk 7.5 is supposed to be very good, but I don't have a lot of experience with it. I'll give Plesk another look some day, but as to those hosts that use HSphere or some custom control panel, and all I can say to those hosts is that I hate you. I really hate you, lol.
Ever since I got into being a webmaster, I became fascinated with how many hosting providers are out there. And it never ceases to amaze me how some seem to give you soooo much for so little and do it quite well, while other services will totally reek at hosting, billing and support . . . and they actually charge you a ton more!
Since I have so many websites, I made it a practice to jump from host to host each year to keep looking for better deals, better service, you know, that perfect host. I honestly think that perfect host is Lunarpages, and I settled on them as my main hosting provider around three years ago. Curiosity kept me on the lookout for other good hosts, and there certainly are some other ones (i.e., Easy CGI, Host Gator, Server Beach, InMotion, the list goes on).
Currently, I'm trying out several new hosts, including Aplus.net, Interland, Hostony, Speedfox, DreamHost, midPhase and IX Web Hosting. All I can say at this point is stay away from Aplus and Interland. The others, good to start with, some have control panel issues, and I'll have to wait and see how their service holds up over the next few months.
Recently helped out my old friend, Matt Adams, by providing the HTML / CSS code for his parent's small business website, Wine Craft of Atlanta (www.winecraftatl.com). Matt already had a design completed in Photoshop, and just needed that converted to HTML. It only took me around three to four hours to do and probably would've taken him days to figure out.
We're doing this under the antiquated barter system where I do his coding for him and he shall repay me in due time with graphic design work when I need it. Right now, I don't need any such work, but I'm sure I will at some point. Little does he know that the work he will do for me will take much longer than a mere three to four hours, lol! Ahh yes, poor unsuspecting Matt, I hope he never reads this, :(