Why have standards when the browsers ignore them? Comments on validating this site.

In revising the web site I have attempted to prepare a standards compliant site. In doing so, however, I have made some practical decisions. 

The new site provides the same materials as the old. This means moving 600+ static pages to the database. In doing so, I was not in a position to edit every page. This would have taken too much time. So, in some places I have made the decision not to remove tables used for formatting. 

So, the basic template for all of the pages complies with XHTML standards. However, there may be some dynamic pages which will not comply because of either bad editing or other issues not covered.

CSS standards are subject to some of the same comments. However, in addition to not be compliant in some cases, none of the pages will validate since I have used CSS to transform the scroll bars. While I like this feature, it is not standards compliant.

I have tested the base pages for accessibility. I have used UsableNet materials to do this. The base pages all have been verified as being compliant. I know of no reason why the content for the dynamic pages would change this feature. If anyone comes across issues related to this I would be pleased to consider them.

I find the overall question of standards somewhat confusing. I am not a professional web designer or developer. I enjoy playing with web design and development. I find the standards issues necessary in a general sense, but it is amazing why the various browsers do not comply with such standards, yet, there is a community who will only allow validation when there is full compliance. This is particularly odd since Microsoft seems to disregard the standards whenever they choose. This comes across mostly in the form of the examples and tutorials which appear on the web. It is difficult to learn both how to do certain applications and yet remain compliant. This is particularly true in the case of many of the extensions designed for Dreamweaver. Rather than any form of CSS for positioning, they all generate tables. 

Does this mean standards are wrong? No, I just think there needs to be a more practical approach to when sites are granted approval -- or else a more practical approach needs to be taken to the standards themselves.

Jim