A lot has been discussed between Misty and yourself since my first reply and my going to sleep last night. :P
If I may just rehash a little on some of the topics...
SSL - If your serious about your store, strongly consider enabling SSL. Even if you are using PayPal for the transactions, your customers will feel more confident when you provide them SSL security. I never buy from online stores that don't offer SSL. btw...PayPal is convenient in the beginning, but as your store grows you'll want to consider and API payment module.
SSL requires a valid SSL certificate, an SSL directory for your files, and your configure.php files to be in good standing. You can talk with your host about your options as you see fit. :smile:
Database - Definitely talk with your host about this. It is not normal for there to be intermittent connections. IF they can't answer to your satisfaction, you'll do yourself a favor to bite the bullet and find another host. A store that works intermittently is a store that will not make you money or build confidence with your customers.
1-Click installs - They seem convenient, but in the long run you'll cheat yourself. Initial installs are low risk, but from that point on you are going to have to do things manually anyway. Might as well learn it right from the start. (I read that you started over, which is good.)
Your Firefox issue may have just been a cache issue. CTRL-F5 or clearing browser cache, closing and then opening the browser again is usually a good start. As you delv deeper into customizing your web site, you'll likely need to run those steps often. Also, since you have Firefox at your disposal, I strongly recommend installing Chris Pederick's Web Developer extension. It's a HUGE benefit for design.
Good Luck!!
