Even google tries to scare people into thinking traffic trading is bad... because they know their system is flawed! If we all traded traffic- Why would we need google? In 1998 LinkExchange.com was sold to microsoft for 265 million dollars (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkExchange)... this is when google came up with their PR system deeming link trading a google crime.
But Microsoft really was ahead of their time with beleving in this concept of link exchange. They lost trying to compete- instead of continue to innovate- thus them now being behind the curve when they once led the race at one time.
I watched all my sites grow during two consecutive summers when normally traffic declines- and its because of this link exchange system and the help of others that have contributed their traffic.
Its up to us as webmasters to break the mold- and start fighting back- trading without fear- It will happen - thus google changing the look of their search engine- (moving sponsored ads closer to the so called real searches). They are losing money! The game is shifting..
Google's business model is in trouble, and so is every traffic aggregator who imposes this old buy/sell trafic scheme.
You may not understand my logic now- but I assure you things will change.