I like to build compact websites that are bold/simple in design. I wouldnt build a whole site in flash as so many viewers dont have their flash working properly. I dislike sites built in flash as they are heavy on the pc resources also.
In some cases I will put a flash animation on the page to make it more interesting, and occassionally a flash nav menu.

I'd say somewhere in the middle.. "simple & catchy". I'm a perfectionist in many ways, and I hate sites that just look messy, but at the same time you don't want you site to look empty(desperate for something to fill the space).

who wouldnt prefer simplicity? The best sites are the ones that dont make the users think

Do not use any flash ... the best designs are made in photoshop and coded with php/css