Anyone have any advice on how to reconcile this with transitioning to a CMS?
Here is my answer: Use Joomla for your CMS. ( www.joomla.org ) Install the ARTIO SEF component. (1-click install in Joomla admin interface.). Wow! Those URL’s are awesome!
This ugly url: http://www.antioch.edu/admincomputing/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
becomes this: http://www.antioch.edu/admincomputing/home/index.php
I thought crappy URL’s were endemic to all CMS systems… Oh I love Joomla!