OnlyToday - 2:06 pm on Jan 19, 2009 (gmt 0)

...Google as a good example of why it's not that vital to have your pages validate.

Yes, exactly. That's what I meant in my original comment. Not just Google but nearly every other successful web site does not validate. If there's a standard that almost no one pays any attention to you should take a close look at the standard and ask why. For most businesses validation is just another unneeded and unenforced tax. The validator is a good tool when tracking down problems in design but having the final result validate is not necessary.

No, I wouldn't say that to a client because the client might be ignorant of the reality and explaining reality to prospective clients is a fool's errand. That's one reason why I'd never design web sites for other people--or be in sales for that matter.

But if I were applying for a web-related job I definitely WOULD express such an opinion in a job interview because working for an employer who was ignorant enough to hold this against me would be an ill-fated venture, I'd be quitting or get fired somewhere down the line anyway.

[edited by: OnlyToday at 2:14 pm (utc) on Jan. 19, 2009]