freejung - 6:32 pm on Aug 20, 2010 (gmt 0)

I've had no problems with using the canonical link on the original URL. However, I did get into trouble with my very first use of it - I accidentally canonicalized a URL that was 301 redirected to another URL or something like that, I don't remember the details, but it completely removed that URL from the index for several days just as if I had installed an incorrect 301. So I think Google may well be honoring the "hint" a little too strongly even in cases where it makes no sense whatsoever.