I began learning web design in graduate school but quickly began seeking further education on the web. I found that web developers have a kinship, a community, online. They seem more than willing to share their code, exchange ideas, and push the envelope of the web as far as it could go.
If I have my preference, I'd say I like working in Flash the most. I can see the benefits inherent to CMS but in the end there is a "too many cooks in the kitchen" feel for me. I like collaborative work, but CMS invites people to poke around that inevitably find their way into the engine room of the code.
HTML and CSS are fantastic and definitely on the heels of what is possible in Flash. Ultimately, mixing the tools available yeilds the most impressive and effective websites.
My motto for web design has always been, "can it do this?" Then I find a way to make it happen.
Marshall University: College of Liberal Arts
Marshall University: Department of English
Marshall University: Writing Center*
Marshall University: Recreation Center
And, of course, this site.
* site also contains other code languages or technologies