if statements

Perhaps, the general feeling is that 'if' statements in templates are
bad. Here's how they are useful though (taken from a template written
using SmartTemplate class):

	<i>Your search found {products_total}

	{if: products_total != 1}
		matches.
	{/if}
	{if: products_total = 1}
		match.
	{/if}
	</i>

To do this using only dynamic sections would make it look something
like this:

    <i>Your search found {products_total}

    {section: products_total_is_1}
        matches.
    {/if}
    {section: products_total_is_more_than_1}
        match.
    {/if}
	</i>

Then the developer would need to explicitly hide one of the sections.
And what if there is another place on the page where some output will
depend on where products_total is greater than 5, for example? Another
effort on part of developer is needed.

So, what are your thoughts? Are 'if' statements good or evil?

-Andrei

Nobody tried to design Windows - it just grew in random
directions without any kind of thought behind it.