shouldn't the same intent that created laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and others (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm) also apply to accessing public government web sites?

Not that those of us that refuse to use IE and/or Windows are 'handicapped' in some way... shouldn't access be universal? or as made as close as possible by following standards?

and why even bother coding all of that stuff when you'd eventually have to do it 'the right way'?

*sigh* then again, how can you expect common sense out of a government office that issues ridiculous patents all day long?