Independent List Definitions in WSS 3.0
In WSS 3.0, lists are no longer part of the site definitions and encapsulated in Features. This not only allows you to deal with a lighter ONET.XML, it gives you the ability to define a list template once and reference it multiple times across different site definitions (reusability is making a lot more sense in this version – I love it )
My colleague, Joubin, explains how easy it would be to point to a OOTB list template in your site definitions using the Feature framework and have them referenced in your default.aspx page of any provisioned sites off your site definition. http://www.sharepointblogs.com/joubin/archive/2007/01/16/17921.aspx
Even if you want to add your own custom list definition (such as Hardware assets) to the site def, you should follow the same instructions in his post. Package the list definition into a feature, Install and activate the feature on the server and get your site def just reference it.
