Are you from Orlando or around it? Sounds like you know a lot. Interesting about the inner ring neighborhoods. What I remember from being in Orlando is that there were a lot of abandoned cars along the road. I have no idea why, but that stuck out to me. I don't mean a ton, but like three or four...still more than I have ever seen anywhere else, though.
Interesting what you mentioned about Miami Beach. I am reading a book by Doris Goldstein, attorney for Seaside, and Miami Beach (Ocean Street is it?) is cited as a good mixed use "new" urbanist example (I know its not new). I liked the street very much, but don't think its better than a place like Newbury Street in Boston (which I hear referenced less). The Lincoln Road Mall is fantastic (a great nearby South Beach shopping district, outdoor mall, very walkable with plenty of posh restaurants, chic clothing stores, lots to see, eat, and do, and even a few stores for the average person! Ha!). What disappointed me most about South Beach is that aside from the two or three streets which get all the acclaim (and they deserve it), there was just blocks and blocks of strip malls with very low-end stores in them. It seems like you could turn a corner an be in a totally different neighborhood. Also, aside from Downtown Portland, there were probably more homeless people living on the street in South Beach than I have ever seen anywhere else.
The view of Downtown Miami from the top floor of our hotel (which was a fitness center...but lets just say I said I was going to work out just to sit on the deck and look at the buildings a few miles away) was astounding. The skyscrapers just go on and on and on there. Another problem Miami Beach has is its isolation from Miami proper. We had to take a bus (that took forever to arrive) just to get Downtown, and when we got there, there was nothing to do. All in all, I think it was a good place to see, and MB had some great aspects, but I think Orlando might even have a leg up on it (and that's what prompted this tangential rant). I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.