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Hi.
I also use XOOPS for some works i do. You will have some dificculties starting, you must understand the modules functionality and some times, depending of wat you want to do, the modules you need, to to guet the best functionality XOOPS vs Modules you have to choose diferent XOOPS versions. With installing\re-installing\testing you will get there.
Has for templates, you may download hundreds of themes, and of course with a litle study, you will learn to change and join ideas you get from here and there.
Believe me, XOOPS is great and very cheap, becouse you dont loose many time working to do greate, diferent and professional looking things.
You may start to regiter one domain in one cheep hosting that has many funcionalities, i use
http://www.bluehost.com and i am very happy. I have now about 28 XOOPS websites related... and some very active!!
Success to you!!
Regards. (Sorry my inglish)