Question: Is there an easy way to get a WCM site in MOSS 2007 without going through all the hoops that you showed us?

Answer: Yes and no. Yes, it is easy to set up a web app on an internal authoring (windows) zone and extend the zone to the Internet. The authoring of content is done by authenticated users and the internet zone is configured for anonymous access only. The reason I would go with no is because of the fact that this scenario is not designed for customization, branding or custom development.

Question: What is the best way to handle unstructures sharepoint development and content growth in my company?

Answer: There is no easy answer to this one. My recommendation is usually to engage with resources (internal or external) who understand the importance of planning, design and structure for an enterprise Sharepoint deployment. Sharepoint is a very powerful set of tools and as such requires a significant level of planning for any major deployment scenario. Too often, I have heard people share stories about how their company's "MOSS" project turned from a simple website with documents to a "sharepoint sprawl"