However, it is a good thing for the advertiser. You can then compare "apples to apples" .
If only Google could find a way to let me *manage* my overture account from their system I;d really be happy!
The biggest impediment to our spending more on Overture is their sucky (really really sucky) UI.
You're not required to use it - it's value add only.
Overture has a similiar tool to track (and manage) AdWords bids.
You have to voluntarily sign up, place the code on your site, and amend the destination URLs for other campaigns. When you have to go through that much effort, and you know what you're doing - it's not at all spyware.