There wasn't really a question...just a ramble really!
The problem I find is, and it really shouldn't be a problem, is say a simple 2 column layout. Left column positioned relatively with a right margin large enough to position absolutely a right column. The problem is, if you want anything to be positioned underneath these divs, a footer in most cases, the left column always has to be longer than the right.
The only way I've gotten around this is to use floats.
Surely there must be a better way?
That's fuckin' ingenious, if I understand it correctly. It's a Swiss fuckin' watch.