sugarrae - 6:21 am on Dec 10, 2006 (gmt 0)

>>>I agree with JD about the link pop already passing

Sure, it shows as a backlink, but, to what value does it count? And what effect on that value does changing that link via a 301 have?

>>>product quality, desirability, prices, choices, their reputation, financial stability, likelihood they won't shave, honesty, commission percentage, markteting assets, and probably a mix of those and other reasons

>>>is the act of choosing an affiliate vendor and linking to them a vote of some kind

True. But bottom line is their link would not be on my site if I was not financially incentivized to do so. Period. It's a paid link in some sick twisted fashion. Martini, you're going to make me quote Matt [mattcutts.com], and I will never forgive you for that. Ever. ;-)

"we consider it outside our guidelines to get PageRank via buying links"

Therefore, imho, I don't see it as a vote. Bottomline, it's really a paid link.