Hi Nihil, we meet again!

Quote Originally Posted by nihil

So, there is no need for a parasite in the middle?
What do you think shopkeepers are? Why don't the public all contact the distributors direct, and miss out the MITM? Because they like to wander into a shop and see what is on display. They then buy the goods from the shopkeeper because he's provided them with a service, and shown them what there is available. Once they know an item is available, they COULD go hunting for the distributor and buy one direct, but most of them don't because either a) they're too stupid or b) they're too lazy. Most people fit into the latter category.
Personally, I don't mind paying a little extra if I save a few hours of my life to do what I want with. Our time on this planet is limited!

Quote Originally Posted by nihil

Furthermore, security software will start to pick up that the initial contact is not what it should be, and will identify it as a potential MITM attack. This will get the vendors and affiliates on RTBLs, which they certainly don't want.
This does interest me. You are from the UK, you know MutualPoints and the like. They pass a customer on to another's web site in the same manner, by a simple redirect. Why do they not get tagged as evil baddies?