BeeDeeDubbleU - 8:25 am on Dec 22, 2008 (gmt 0)

I find that opinion pretty shocking, because it's terribly limiting. There is huge scope for establishing credibility with potential customers, branding, etc, dependent on a service oriented website NOT being limited to being an online brochure.

If my opinion is so shocking perhaps I am misunderstanding you. Can you explain what you mean by "not being limited to an online brochure"?

If a service based business does not have a product to sell online then I can see no scope for anything other than an online brochure. Just remember that some brochures are bigger and better than others. I am not talking about a trifold.