Thank you for both your answers!
There is obviously a market for these websites, otherwise the would not exist. I think you, Califdon, have a 100% valid opinion but you are thinking in terms of the design YOU like and find more useful, not a design OTHERS like. Again, why are they out there. My guess is that they will become more popular. Here's another example:
http://www.thesixtyone.com/. I'm sure if I ask this question in a forum that's aimed to the graphic arts I would not get the same responses. Same thing on a forum that's aimed to bands and musicians.
The cell phone issue is valid too, but wouldn't you design a cell phone version of the site? Why limit the design? The answer is to design the site and then, in about 2 months, check Google Analytics and see how many people are using cell phones to see the website (this is what I do, in fact, and usually is 2% or less).