IMO, this whole issue comes down to your definition of what SEO is.

To me, SEO is the total package employed. That includes seo copywriting, link building, tag management and the like. If you're focusing on rank alone, then yes, right now on Google it looks like having a relevant linking strategy is what it's taking to get a site ranked.

But the thing is, most of us don't just focus on rank/positioning. We want the site to rank well AND make sales. So the combination of factors mentioned above HAS to be included.

That's why we call it search engine optimization and not search engine positioning.

Debra.