[tannhaeuser]

> A forgiving text-based format that was trivial to author, serve, and display. And evolve with forward/backwards compatibility.

I'm not disagreeing, but that's certainly a less often heard characterization of SGML ;) and also, not sure evolution of the HTML vocabulary past 4.x, or lack thereof, supports this point considering there are entire universes of additional syntax such as CSS and philosophical schools of thoughts only there to avoid having to write plain markup attributes. The metaphor also is apt, since, like the universe, CSS syntax seems to expand faster than the speed of light.

[simonh]

You don't have to use all of that though, it's optional. A fairly basic but serviceable HTML document that looks decent is still pretty easy.