If it happens that I have to take over code from somebody else, which does happen from time to time, I almost always go through and clean up ALL the code to make it be much better looking. In this process I gain a full understanding of how it works, where I can improve it, and how I can restructure it for the new features that have to be added.

One added experience in this respect: It is darn difficult to make whoever is in charge understand that this 'unproductive' time to do this is gained in the end.

Erik