Just curious. If you use a PHP framework, which one(s) do you use? What reasons did you choose that particular framework for?
While I agree with you that maintenance, readability and extensibilty are essential for any web application, a custom made solution also works fantastic in one’s own developmental strategy. I am obviously speaking from the point of view of a one-man shop. A sole developer who is single-handedly coding the back end. In that case, one does things in his own way. But for one’s peace of mind, readabiliy and extensibilty have to be key in case one is asked to add some more functionalities few years down the road. If someone else takes over the coding responsibility, he or she will have to rely on the documentation and the comments in code. The developer cannot more helpful than that. There is no developer who will go out of his way to use unfamiliar framework for the sake of the next coder who will have to take over the project. We developers are not that selfless. Are we?
If the developer is a member of a team of back end coders, then that is completely different matter. There have to be common standards to follow. And the team may decide to use a framework so everybody knows the foundation upon which the app is based.
I believe ease of maintenance, readability and extensibility are the developers responsibility also. Even though the impact of these things may not be seen initially months or years down the line when the client decides to change or add something they will have a heavy impact on the budget and time. Using some custom framework is all great for the person(s) who built it but is going to warrant a much steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar. Something developed using known open source technologies is going to have much higher level of code compatibility from one developer to the next. Using your own stuff for internal development is fine but I think it borders on the level of irresponsible for projects that will be pushed out the door and may touch several varieties of development or design hands. At least when you use something open source people know and have often accepted the disadvantages with knowledge of the major advantages the system brings. With some custom framework its not going to be like that though. A person unfamiliar with the architecture is likely to be questioning stuff every step of the way having a direct impact on the time it takes to achieve a task and budget. For example, after having worked with WordPress I think its coded by a monkey. However, I can accept that given all the major advantages it brings. If I were to stumble upon a project coded similar I would have a hard time getting passed how poor the code is.
In PHP there is nothing monotonous in my view. I love every aspect of it. Even in such simple tasks as form buillding, one could be imaginative and have fun that way. The fact that you can skin a cat in so many ways is part of the fun for me. My solution does not have to be identical to anyone else’s, and that is proof enough that this is not the likes of css, i.e. color or font changing stuff.
Also, working in the rigid limitations of an existing framework does kill the fun somewhat depending on one’s take on the issue. For the reccord, I am against using one of the existing frameworks at all. On the contrary. The situation one finds himself in may warrant the usage of a partular framework. In my view though, just be imaginative. Try to do things in your own way unless it is fiendishly complex. In other words, it is of course against common sense to complicate things unnecessirly.
It does not matter if you have follow MVC pattern or not. At the end of the day, one delivers a working project on time. Tha is what client asks for. Is it not?
Currently using CodeIgniter in the form of a project I inherited, it’s not terrible, but I’m not impressed with it either even though I’ve gotten over it’s little weird quirks.
Otherwise I use a combination of Nicedog, [url=http://www.dicabrio.com/php/dica-orm-object-relational-mapping.php]DicaORM, [url=http://phptal.org/]PHPTAL.
Every company that I have worked for has had their own proprietary framework in place. The reason I use any framework is generally because its forced. I do have my own I have been slowly building up but that is just for learning and experimentation if anything. When it comes to professional stuff its generally something custom implemented by the company. I have explored on my own time most of the popular open source solutions. Like anything though there isn’t really any one that stands out as being great in my opinion. Each one has its obvious advantages and disadvantages when torn apart. It just depends on what matters most. I much prefer to build things from the ground up myself but in the real – budget and deadline driven world that generally isn’t the most practical solution for most clients or businesses/companies. I think being a great programmer means being able to adapt. Getting stuck on one way of doing things is grounds for disaster. You have to have an open mind and just go with flow. I don’t always necessarily agree with decisions to use open source solutions vs. custom ones but it isn’t my choice. So being able to put my personal bias aside for such contraptions as WP is vital part of being professional and just doing as asked. At least that is the way I see it. The last thing I want to be branded as is a ______ developer vs. a all-around developer who is able to get the job done regardless of what is in front of me or software constraints imposed. That is my professional mentality about the entire issue but I’m not a freelancer. I;m sure as a freelancer you can be a lot more picky about morals and beliefs when it comes to developing software. However, when your working with a team you need to realize and accept that the team is greater than self. I know the discussion is about Frameworks but I thought that was worth mentioning (getting a little off track with CMSs).
It’s “Dreamweaver” and Dreamweaver is an IDE, not a framework.
Also this. Although I don’t find the form building to be that monotonous, but just as enjoyable 
This. 
If I develop a new project , I use Symfony.
Depends on what I"m developing.
Currently writing some code that does some magic, but no input is really require so no framework.
Alot of one off forms and stuff I dont use frame works
Anything else gets moved into a framework. I tend to use one I wrote, though I’m moving it to use Doctrine for model. I agree with everybody else there they’re a good way to learn. For example latest one doesn’t use smarty, testing how i like programming in different environments.
I just finished my second framework, I prefer it because I learn 10x more than using something pre-made, and I get better each time.
I write my own all the time, each time learning a lesson and incorporating that into my next one.
I consider the framework-writing part of PHP as the fun part; the rest is just monotonous form building etc
My own, because I’m a fool
Symfony, because I tried a few and it complemented how I want to work best.