After using Zope more than one year I want to share my experiences with you
That's what I think:
2. Don't use ZPT, DTML or ZClasses. I spent to much time searching for the line were the error occured. Since I use python I no more have theses problems.
Don't use ZClasses!!! That's true... but why not ZPT & DTML? Mixing my html-layout into python-code is moving two steps back. welcome to the php-mixing-code&design-scripting-chaos.
As Shreck said, it is layers. You might not like mixing Html with code, but your designer doesn't know python. Depending on your project, the same might go for some of your programmers. Sure, it is nice to have a perfect object hierarcht, but it is not always easy to make little adjustment for the unenlighted sidekick. My perfect setup is having a python product class hierarchy that is zclass derivable, with the abstract application. A layer of zclasses sits on top of that, mainly to offer hooks for specific implementations. On top of that all forms and views are done in ZPT or DTML, calling the python classes where necesary. Douwe