>I know of no frameworks in the "public domain" as in free.

Actually the framework that VFE (and the Codebook for Mere Mortals) is based on (CodeBook) is in the public domain and is FREE.

The book Visual Codebook sells for $30 and contains a CD with the framework on it. In August-September timeframe we will be releasing an updated version of the framework at our website (www.flashusa.com) that people can download free. I believe that it will also be available on Ed Leafe's Codebook forum (www.leafe.com)