That being said, I like to aim for the following in my code:

1) Functionality
2) Readability
3) Consistency

And I look for them in that order. I suppose when I have a boss who disagrees with my methods, I may have to rethink them, but so far neither employer nor co worker has yet to take issue with the way I do things.

I have to admit to not having sat down and read PBP yet (I've skimmed it), but that's largely because I was fortunate enough to have good CS profs who taught me to start by writing out step by step, in plain English, what I wanted to do and how I want to do it. It's amazing how big projects suddenly become a series of smaller, simple ones that way.