Well, there was no other way of doing that skin any different.
I think that there is always other way, only that this time this skin is requested from your friend and he likes the way the skin looks, and also alot of other people like it.But that does not mean that you should stop with experimenting, it's not an easy task to make something to look "simply" and to keep the main idea about it - this is the harder way and it depends on how much you want to challange your self.
For me its easyer to express the "pain" by drawing human face with signs of pain, but the right challange for me is to express my self by NOT showing the face with pain or any physical parts of the body, and also to be understanding for all the people that will see my piece of art and in some way feel the same...
American flag is there to symbolize that tragedy happened in USA, nothing else. There were many people from all over the World in that building when tragedy happened, and it is a global tragedy, not just local.
Becouse there were many people from all over the World yes it's not local tragedy, so if i were you i would try something different with out the flags, but i am not you so it's your decision...
Skin is compiled and that project is closed. It is like a monument. Simple is not always the best solution, and that is a non-writen rule in design business. I am into designing business more than 18 years by now, so I've been through everything literally.
Even if I change something, Alwil guys wouldn't have time to go through updating that skin. Besides, I think it would be killing the initial idea that my friend had in his mind when he directed me what he wanted to see inside that skin
Also, I don't have that much time lately, so that's the main reason I don't create new skins for avast! that often. Vista is officialy my last skin for avast! ever. There are some other things in life, like my new baby coming to this World in December, my lovely wife, friends, going outside, having fun, enjoying the life, my small business needs someone to take care of etc. etc.
9-11 skin was just a tribute and it's not meant to be one of those "every-day-use" skins for avast! anyway. I believe there is a lot more professional looking skins to choose from in avast! skins download section. Full size previews:
http://home.comcast.net/~sasha3160/szc_skins.htmlThanks i will check your site when i will go to internet caffe, with this computer i cant see your works 
Cheers
There is also preview page in HTML and you can choose between Flash and preview HTML page. If you don't have Flash installed, you can see HTML content and at least get the picture how my work looks like.
