I've customized the checkout process with the CSS Template I've created, it is similar to what most others do, but has a few aspects to it that I think make the checkout easier, although I do agree it should always be a 3 step process, never more or less. I was rather limited as I did NOT want to modify any PHP files in doing this.
Both the left and right menu's are removed, as most others do to prevent confusion. I've also added a CSS Progress bar, which replaces the search field, this may be bad asumption on my part as it may prevent some upselling but I felt It may do more damage than good as far as the customer NOT converting.
I've also made the proper buttons to "continue" highlighted with another CSS box around the buttons like the "Checkout" button in view cart as well as the Register "Submit" button on the Anonymous Checkout along with splitting this page into a 75% width register form area and 25% width existing customer login form area, which I've seen most others do.
Most of the customizations went into the view cart area where I tried to make it as uniform and usuable as possible.
DEMO:
http://www.cart-lab.com/demo_4x/home.php?skin=cssskin
It seems X-Cart is in the right direction and hopefully the fast lane checkout mod will be refined over time to allow as many configurations as possible, as I don't think there is one solid way of defaulting a checkout process so that it works in all industries.
Anyhow, just my 2cents.
