I completely agree with you. If you're able to make a visual webpart, you should do it.

I'll tell you what I would do using sharepoint 2007. Try checking the webpart gallery http://yourspserver/\_catalogs/wp/ If you can't find the webpart there, click on "New" and try to find your webpart there. Select it and press "Populate Gallery". Your webpart should now show up in the gallery and also show up on the pages. Hope that helps Cheers

I don't know wether it has an impact on performance, but I've read in several best practice documents, that whenever possible the CreateChildControl should only be used for the final polish. Unlike ASP.NET Web controls, they are defined and rendered with templates. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb687949(v=office.12).aspx[^] Check the "Using Web Controls" part.