password hashing and crypt()

hi all, recently ive been debating a bit about the use of the crypt() function and the best practice thereof, im hoping you can help to clarify this for me. so, the crypt function http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.crypt.php has a second parameter, $salt, which, if not supplied will be automatically generated and presumably become a prefix or suffix of the returned string. now, the article on the phpsec website http://phpsec.org/articles/2005/password-hashing.html recommends to externally create a salt and to store that in a separate field in the database, which would then be used for subsequent password verification. theoretically, however, if the password is generated without a user supplied salt, there is a salt already embedded in the password anyway. so, i have the following questions 1. is the phpsec technique bloated or unnecessary 2. is it better to create a user supplied salt, and why or why not 3. is crypt() 'intended' to be used w/o a user provided salt, since it is a stable algorithm any other direction or hints you can supply are much appreciated. thanks, -nathan