ZydoSEO - 2:01 am on Feb 18, 2013 (gmt 0)

Hmmm I would have to disagree.

While Google may be changing how they interpret links, what they see as "natural" vs. "unnatural", which links they count, which they discount, which they totally ignore, which trigger penalties and filters, etc., links have always been, are, and likely always will be an important part of their algorithm. Why would they ignore the VERY thing that makes the "web" a "web"?

Try building a site and getting it to rank beyond the honeymoon period for even a moderately competitive keyword phrase WITHOUT a single link to that site? I simply don't see it happening.