Okay, sell to meh.. lol, no. I want to know, as someone who can code a webpage from scratch fairly well, along with do some basic php stuff, what do these programs do to benefeit me? My boss bought it for me to work with and insists i can use this tool, all these programs look like to me is a newage version of hotdog web editor, that has a graphic interface to go along with my text writing?
Templates aside (because those can be kind of nifty when you are lazy)Are these programs used mostly for those who do not know how to code a webpage? Or can i, the intermediate web designer, already outdo what these programs have to offer?

Also, do these tools use effective coding methods? like div'ing and whatnot? or is it all done with seemingly thousands of lines of code like what frontpage used to always do to me?

Many beginners who can't code a lick do use these programs. However, DW at least, IS used by professionals as it has some very nice features that can speed up workflow (besides templates). DW's site managment is execellent, has site-wide search and replace, and plenty of other features. I use DW and have since version 1.0, but I learned to code by hand 10 years ago and I still code by hand.

Forget GoLive- Adobe is not going to continue to develop it.. it's essentially a dead product.