Can user add to an existing dataset

If I have a dataset put together, let's say it shows a name, a picture, a blurb and a contact method.

On my site, I have a content area which displays the dataset in the way I would like

Can my user use PowerCMS to edit/add data to the set?
If not, can I put a link to a backend that does allow them to edit the dataset and have them use PowerCMS to edit the static portions of the site? (in other words, can I combine two different backends into a single user experience?)

The Power CMS is really for editing content of pages. This data set that you are talking about should have it's own table so that it can be updated and edited as intended.

You can have a set of pages created with DataAssist to manipulate the data in this table in the back end of your site. If you would like to add the rich text editing ability to any part of these pages you can make use of iRite or the new HTML Editor to add in this type of editor.

Thanks for your response to both this and the related question about "Adding New Sections to a Page"

I think I understand now that I really need to just build a traditional back-end using the Data-Dssist/Security-Assist extensions.

I guess I just really liked the interface of PowerCMS - I think it would make my non-tech customers feel quite warm and fuzzy!

So the last question before I abandon trying to use it for THIS project (I got others in mind!)
Can I somehow integrate the two backends? For example, they sign into PowerCMS and then can link to my custom backend from within PowerCMS? maybe even use the same authentification?

You could do it this way by applying the same access restriction rules to your new pages. This way the user can still make use of the CMS login for any of the pages in the backend, once logged in they should have access to all pages that have the rule applied to them. I think this is the easiest way to integrate another part to the CMS backend.

Thank-you ... there is something quite comforting about the PowerCMS interface I think my client will respond well to!