regarding coding html - tables era was pretty easy, it was pretty easy basically for anyone to pickup how html works with simple stuff like table layouts. once css kicked in with complex "layered" positioning and many other thigns that are not cells like in tables - things get complicated - now to be any good with xHTML/CSS - you have to be dedicated to it thats why its harder for designers to pick it up an offer it as a service - either they spend all their time doing graphics or coding.
and again i don't deny there maybe be some versatile guys offering quality of both ;)