I agree! This back linking is ruining the web. If they did not consider links at all we would all be in a better place. I could care less if anybody links to my site, it is my users that matter. I have some unreputable sites linking to me and I tried to get the to unlink to no avail. I never joined any linking scheme nor any SEO scheme, I have only followed Googles rules and still my sites were hit hard too and my business is now in jeapordy too!