I've just been updating the PlanHQ site, to which we've added bits like tag clouds etc. So far we've been adding them into the php file of the template which means a lot of duplication. Is silverstripe planning some sort of widget framework? Ie. a default folder called 'widgets' that holds the php include files for extra widgety type code people write?
Most other CMS's have this sort of thing and it works well for us. It also means things like tag clouds become somewhat standard which is nice. :)