WebFusion - 8:18 pm on Aug 21, 2005 (gmt 0)

At one time programs like RP were ok with Google and other search engines

The fact that the gnines took awhile to "catch on" to these spam machines nver meant they were "OK" with them. Cloakers can (and in some cases, still do) also rank well in many engines - but they were never considered "ok".

and many of the top web marketing gurus were actually recommending it

Of course they were/are. They stand to make a bundle by selling these things (or are simply doing abother "guru" a favor by endorsing it, which they will return by endorsing THAT person's next "great thing".

The only real long term solution is real content.

The only thing that has reall y stood the test of time for me. Aside from occasional blips due to some kind of glitch in the algo/crawling activity, etc.....my content based sites maintain stable rankings for years.