Oh yeah, to start off definitely don't start with a WYSIWIG editor or you won't learn anything. To be fair in DW I spend at least half the time in code view editing the code DW makes or making my own.

I have another NotePad editor, Notepad has too little features. You can produce code etc. but it's not the easiest way in code layout etc. If you know what I mean.

I make mods, I don't start the whole template over.

1st Page Pro is the best textbased code editor out there IMO... It's like a lite version of the old Allaire Homesite (before Macromedia ruined it)

Loads as fast as notepad but gives you all of the extra features from dreamweaver, without the WYSIWYG interface

I re-write the template from notetab light. In some cases i will do the mod from the template editor built into vbulletin.

Honestly i hate the WYSIWYG interface.