Is it possible to create template files or template system that doesn't need to get upgraded with each new release? Meaning that the whole templates don't have to become edited? This saves alot of time, alot of everything, as this is the hardest thing for designers, that if they release a template for 3.9.0, quickly 4.0 will come and then they will have to update designs all over.

The templates only had to be changed in version 3.6.5 (templates of php for html) and in version 3.8.5 to put the linksstyles2 (optional).

Are usually the designs made in photoshop and sliced up and coded?

http://www.memht.com/index.php?page=documents&title=Creating+new+Templates