Soho templates.. or any catalogue templates require additional files to be attatched and also have to contain coding to embed php elements and includes to operate correctly. Thats why you cant just copy and paste the html from one to the other exactly the same way.
With that said.. If you go to the soho thread ive written several times HOW to customize a template, and where to find the info. They also recently bought out kickass templates and most of them have been converted to use with soho, and around 400 of them are free! Go to the
www.addons.soholaunch.com (might be without an s) and see for yourself if you might not find something you can use.
Karen