tangor - 10:51 pm on Apr 11, 2010 (gmt 0)

@TheMadScientist: Pick on me! I've felt a bit left out you haven't looked my way before. :)

Of the "200" methods of ranking, none of which are transparent, this one takes the cake. What google is doing with this speedometer flag is shutting out, killing, obstructing, preventing, misdirecting the "happy user" from content "because the site is slow".

On one of my sites a 128,000 word novel is offered in one page (some like it all, not in bits and pieces) and thus, will be "slow". On one of my client's pages there's very instructive flash tutorials (with a goldurned flash front end which I tried to talk them out of) that is not the most fleet of foot.

At some point it MUST be the Content that is of value, not the horse and buggy that brought it to town. Unless I've misread the Cutts comments and those of others regarding this topic the "speed factor" is server response time and that is a whole different kettle of fish. I know too many grand sites (many authority) that operate off workhorse servers with a bit of tooth, but are still robust and capable. And I have no doubt that those operating their own servers at best can afford pipes aren't going to be happy, either. </rant>