Hey all, I don't know much about this sort of stuff so I thought I'd start another thread on amp racks. I have a few basic questions about them.

Other than hiding wires and giving an organized appearance, do they serve a purpose? I'm guessing if they do it's to keep the amp cool, or to keep another surface from melting under the amp.. is this correct?

What do people usually make them out of? I know I've seen quite a few that are carpeted.. but then do people use spaces to lift the amp off the carpet?

Any other tips for an amp rack? This is something I'm considering doing because I just got a second amp in my boat and it's starting to clutter the storage compartment a bit. Thanks for the help.