I think Typepad is a service you pay for it, and so it must be really helpful for those who are serious about writing a blog (check “100 years of Illustration” blog which is what made me notice typepad in the first place) without the HTML coding hassle.

I still think, I don’t have the time to run a “serious” blog (I have other websites to manage) and I prefer to use a free wordpress, google, or other blog on special subjects. I have seen an artist using a special blog for artists, too (http://www.joanahamilton.com/). But also in her case it is vital to receive comments openly without having to be exactly from within Typepad. And I got her in my “neighborhood” as a person to be in touch regularly, too, when I commented and got in touch on her pages. A thing I would have probably missed if she were with Typepad.

My rule of thumb, when you pay for something is usually for a benefit, often in cutting time and I must see a return in the investment.

(PS. Sorry for the side note, but in my browser, Firefox 3.6., on Windows Vista, all links are not readable easily, strike-through instead of underlined)

This is site is designed with WordPress, but I have two other sites that are hosted with TypePad. I think your choice depends on how comfortable you are with HTML code and whether you intend to host sidebar advertising.