[mrweasel]

They actually took the time to make it at "template" of sorts.

I wonder if the sites are deliberately made using an older design language to appeal to a certain audience?

You almost want to clone it and just replace the content with something more interesting.

[caslon]

Actually, the Netscape page is just a thin veneer over the CompuServe page. If you take the green gifs off, the page is filled with CompuServe colors. It's less a template and more Netscape wearing the skin of CompuServe turned green.