Deborah J. Mayhew points out you get what you pay for: discount usability will not do the entire job. She goes on to say that guru's also aren't worth the money. While I do think she generalizes a bit, I agree with her on several points, especially the fact that websites are far more complicated and need more extensive testing beyond typical discount methods.

However, there are aspects of discount I still think are right on, including ditching labs and using smaller samples when time is limited. Some usability is still better than none. I think the key problem is that discount usability should have been a fix for projects with tiny budgets and timelines-- instead they've become the defacto standard, and that isn't the way a grown-up company should go.

I know recruiters lurk about here sometimes... a former protegé of mine and Jesse's has moved to New York and is job hunting. I strongly recommend you consider hiring Andi Lewis.

Morality may not be a movable feast, but thanks to ben and mena, I've been able to use movable type to make a food blog. I'm liking it very much, and will be moving eh into it shortly, I hope.

I've also volunteered to do usability testing for them next week, along with chad. If you are in San Francisco, are interested in movable type and have not installed it yet, and are a blogger (whew, now that's a screener!) let me know and we can use you for usability testing!