<div id="wrapper" style="width: 400px">
<div id="left" style="float: left; width: 200px;">Left</div>
<div id="right" style="float: right; width: 200px;">Left</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
</div>
I know this question wanted inline block, but try to view http://jsfiddle.net/N9mzE/1/ in IE 7 (the oldest browser supported where I work). The divs are not side by side.
OP said he did not want to use floats because he did not like them. Well...in my opinion, making good webpages that does not look weird in any browsers should be the maingoal, and you do this by using floats.
Honestly, I can see the problem. Floats are fantastic.