Quadrille - 11:30 pm on Dec 28, 2008 (gmt 0)

The whole issue is theoretical ... but read the OP - zero mention of the keyword is exactly the issue. That's what I meant by zero content - should have said 'zero keyword content', apologies for any confusion.

In practice, in all but the tiniest niches, there is not one site A, but scores, hundreds, thousands. And not all, bar a miracle, will be SEO dumb.

And you reckon that honest SEO can make site B - with zero mention of the keyword - get into contention?

You've just turned over 10 years of SEO :)

And you criticise me for generalizing? ;)