RE:
I think I found the post I was talking about:
showthread.php?t=1134
Reading it again now, maybe he was referring to a default setting and not necessarily inability to handle UTF-8.
Well, I don't have problems with all that (the procedure being extensive like you described) so long as Web Developer Suite does indeed save a lot of time in the process. I would purchase it if it can significantly reduce the development time and effort compared to not using it, assuming all the other requirements you mentioned (conceptualizing database structure, some handcoding tweaks, etc.) are met.
Verdict?
At least Web Developer Suite can create a web version of something I would make in, say, FileMaker Pro, correct? For this additional questions, I'm talking about putting together an editable address book database with multiple users with multiple editing privileges.