Backseat

The first thing I learned was how to make desktop applications (standard stupid windows forms in visual basic, you know, the stuff a 14 year old can make). Then I went on to some more advanced stuff in C and Java.

After that I met C# (the love of my life) and learned how to use Visual Studio. Two years ago I learned how to use HTML and CSS (read: I learned how to use <table> )

After that I tought myself PHP, JavaScript, ASP, ASP.NET and now ASP.NET MVC. I've seen PHP5 with the whole Object-oriented stuff, ruby on rails, python websites, customized drupal, joomla, wordpress etc etc.

At this moment I think I can call myself a full-fledged web developer (using proper html/css/js). But I am often thinking back about the days when I was just playing around with PHP, having all my code crapped into one page and whatnot. Not using OO, fighting with include() or import() or whatever statements to try and get my code a bit 'structured' etc.

So Here I am asking you some questions (if you're still reading by now); feel free to answer any or all of them and give related opinions:

For anyone:
1) What are you using for Server-side programming (PHP/ASP/...)
2) What else have you tried but did not stick? (in particular, have you tried MVC frameworks?) (also: why didn't it stick)
3) What do you like/dislike about certain languages (including the ones you don't actively use)

For those using PHP:
1) Why are you using it, have you tried anything different yet?
2) If you haven't tried anything different yet, why not?

The reason I'm asking these questions is

A) because I am honestly interested in what everyone thinks about this subject, might even learn something here!

B) because I have a strong negative opinion about PHP when compared to most other solutions for Server-side programming, yet I find that nearly everyone uses it. Even companies!

PS: "classic" ASP (and some other technologies) pain me even more than PHP, but you don't see anyone using that anymore (thank god) which is why I am asking about PHP in specific.