it sounds like it's trying to do everything HTML can, but not be HTML
Basically it IS just (a subset of) plain HTML+CSS with a standardized naming structure for table of contents, chapters, cover and similar, all bundled together into a zip file. It defines a default style for unstyled tags and which subset of HTML and CSS the renderer must handle to be compliant.
Instead of Lift, checkout Play (make sure you watch the screencast)! Scala support is currently a plugin but will be the first choice language in Play 2.0 (currently in beta), and it has commercial support available.
Basically, it's Ruby on Rails for Scala and Java.
if you both turn of all you're scripting and caching
But neither of us turn of all we're scripting and caching so the problem persists.
This. It's not specific to Ruby frameworks though. You're pretty much in the same situation if you want to use anything other than PHP+MySQL. Generic hosts nowadays are pretty much meant for non-programmers to run their own PhpBB, Wordpress, Drupal and various legacy websites, not recently developed web applications unless the developers are still stuck in 2004 and choose PHP+MySQL as their language and database even when they have the chance to start from scratch.
Personally I just get a XEN/KVM server somewhere and install what I need myself, be it Ruby+Rails, Node.js+Railway or Scala+Play and Redis, RIAK, MongoDB and/or PostgreSQL.
So that dreaded walled garden has it's upsides then huh?
Yes, for Apple.
Let us return to the peaceful conformity of agreement about almost everything. Let our minds be troubled only by the most banal and pointless arguments about technology and games.
I miss those days.
With your bare hands?!?