Web development without ftp access?

I would appreciate some opinions about this:

Do you think it is reasonable to expect a developer to build a website without giving the developer ftp access to the server?

The network admin does not want to give ftp access for "security reasons" and I was told to use WinSCP. I find it very tedious and inconvenient to have to transfer files this way instead of through Dreamweaver.

Have you ever heard of such a thing?!

That is usually an indication of an inexperienced or lazy administrator. They either don't know how to properly secure the network or don't feel like doing so they give an "it's a security issue" related excuse as to why they can't do it.

Well, I haven't experienced such a situation yet and I don't know how WinSCP is working but I can partially understand the client's intention. If you were a bad guy disguising as website developer you could just steal sensitive information from the client's server and sell it to the competitor... you might even be a nice guy but some people are really skeptical of anybody.

I guess the best you can do is to accept your fate and charge him more for your inconvenience. ;)

That is usually an indication of an inexperienced or lazy administrator. They either don't know how to properly secure the network or don't feel like doing so they give an "it's a security issue" related excuse as to why they can't do it.

You hit the nail on the head. Everything you said was 100% what this situation is, which is what I suspected but wanted a second opinion to be sure. Thanks for your input.