I have to agree with philipolson,
I can't see a valid arguement for the use of any but standard tags.
I'd compare it to using a depreciated feature, why would you?
As for symmetry, or lack of it...
I always place my <?php and ?> tags on seperate lines.
an example of some of my cod ewould look like this
<?php
// stuff at the begining
// included function files
// local function declareation - not usually done
// retrieval & assignment of POST, GET, SESSION, and COOKIE variables
// local variable declareation
?>
<html>
<head>
<title>Example of My PHP Coding</title>
</head>
<body>
<p> </p>
<table>
<tr>
<td><?php
// Then i would indent this line
echo "something here";
?></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><?php
// See how it helps with readability
echo "more stuff";
?></p>
</body>
</html>
<?php
// for that final stuff
// maybe affecting the DB or something else like that
?>
I also tend to code all of my comments first then go back and fill in the actual code. I started doing that when I first started and I find it really helpful if you code in several different languages. Also, it says time when you come back to code months later.
Also, I generally make the HTML page first then place the PHP code into later.
