What really bothers me when someone resize images with width and height tags in html. Why don't you resize them with any graphic program or use PHP thumbnail generator: http://phpthumb.sourceforge.net/ Images will be much cleaner
Like the layout. Tags are imho ok as they form a different way to navigate and honestly i do look at it when i am in consumer mood.. But it's so slow...maybe it's something on my end as i am in Europe bu it's taking a long time to load especially when i try to move around to the diffent categories
You have make a nice design now just you have to go for seo which converts these into useful business site. PM me for SEO.