I don't think MSI is best solution. Once again it's extremely slow and so on. Please check NSIS (
http://sourceforge.net/projects/nsis2k/). More hard to study then MSI but realy flexible, fast and light system.
/A new technology turns into completely outdated stuff before you have a time to read "Getting Started..." section.
/If there are some "system programmers" then others are unsystematic.