[q]So... is horizontal writing with a rigid grid seen as an aesthetic positive that makes text look "old" or "classical"? Or is it seen as undesirable and simplistic to the detriment of the text?[/q]
Ahi, most of the horizontal writing are rather recent. If you want to make something look classical or old, please use traditional Chinese script and vertical layout. But if your readers are in mainland, then I guess simplified script and horizontal layout.
There's also a discussion going on regarding punctuation convention...I was educated in Hong Kong and I agree with Eric, my Chinese language teachers never told us not start a sentence with a punctuation. It wasn't a problem in formal publishing either:
see
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8828/sample2c.jpg
This is a random page from The Eagle-shooting Heroes Vol. 1, first edition published in 1976 by Ming Pao Daily News. Louis Cha put a lot of effort and he owned Ming Pao at the time. Print quality and not in doubt.
Punctuation is a modern invention. I've never heard of it being around before the modern period. This is how Chinese use to handle punctuation:
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4394/sample1m.jpg
Last picture is from the preface of the 17th century edition of Tao Te Ching publisehd by the Emperor. This is done using wooden movable types (they have to carve 250000 pieces) and is as lovely as it gets.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1...iteching01.jpg