I want to look at using JSF but I\'m put off by what appears to be the liberal use of html tables for layout by many components.
How do you go about using JSF to dev
It is definitely possible to produce a website built on JSF that does not use tables for layout. I'm not sure why you think JSF relies upon tables? JSF provides the framework for you to develop whatever type of page you want.
Here is another link that may prove useful: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-jsf1/index.html