Declarative programming in ASP.net 2.0 - good or bad ?

Since ASP.NET 1.1, i have not been a friend of declarative programming in ASP.NET pages. Coming from a C++/ Java/Unix Environment originally, I like to know what happends behind the scenes of a programming statement. Declarative programming to me seems like handing control to same "magic" component (ASP.NET in this case) that makes SOMETHING out of the declared code. What it exactly creates is, at least that's how i feel, unknown to the programmer and very difficult to find out (is it even possible ? Maybe in the class .net compiles the ASPX/ASCX into ?). While developing ATLAS/AJAX controls recently, i stumpled across one more declarative language - xmlscript, i'll first have to figure out what it exactly is. If that's the case for you as well or if you're just curious about the concepts and wether it's useful or wether it puts more obstacles in the way, read this blog entry