Design without template edits, only with plugins?

[ThorstenA]

Do you design your board without template edits, but instead with changing information coming from database (phrases, variables ...)?

I am doing this now and there are two things to consider

1. if there's a new update of vbulletin, I do not have to hassle with template changes any more.
2. instead I have to reconsider what plugins may be affected.

There's one big advantage to this solution:

• you edit far more specific - only a special part WITHIN a template instead of changing whole template. The more specific you go, the more unlikely are changes in upcoming vbulletin editions.

What do you think about this?

[Dismounted]

You're more than likely going to have to update your template replacements as updates pass. Also, you'll be creating a lot of unnecessary overhead in my opinion.