So while it’s cool to diss MSFt and *heart* Apple, I doubt that a majority of their readers OUTSide this core really care that much. I think the question begs further focus on the ‘core users’. Are those users earning Digg money? Do these core users turn off other users (the answer is a resounding YES on that one). Are they spending their own $ on Digg? If not, are they worth supporting to the point of alienating revenue streams?

Good questions Allen. And not easy answers.
(PS why am I always selected for a random capcha?) :)

And don’t forget that when Kevin and Alex came out waving their machines to stir up the Apple v. Wintel rivalry, the response was equal. They determined that half the crowd was on Wintel’s side.

Now far be it from me to defend Microsoft — it doesn’t need it — I don’t think the characterization of utter contempt is quite fair. And there were a helluva lot of hands up reaching for the schwag.

Now to your question about what’s right and wrong in taking advertising. I think the line starts here: If you do truly object to an advertiser, then that’s up to you; I would not say that taking advertising is tantamount to an endorsement, but you’re still free to take what you want and reject what you want. If you think you’d be ripping off the advertiser by taking his money — which I think is your point — then yes, you’re right to say it’d be only fair to turn it down. When I was having a kerfuffle with Dell in my blog (now over), Feedburner made sure to stop ads from Dell, more out of fairness to Dell, I think. But at the end of the day, I’d say it’s a case of caveat emptor and the buyer in this case is the advertiser. It’s up to them to decide.

You see, I think there’s another dangerous line here: If I as a publisher say I’ll turn down any ad from a company I don’t like or my readers don’t like, then that becomes a tacit endorsement of the advertisers I do take. That’s not arms-length enough for my taste. So as a rule, I take all ads on my blog unless I really don’t approve (I had a case a few weeks ago of a conspiracy-nut author and turned that down). Otherwise, why not let an advertiser talk to my readers or Digg’s audience to try on their own to convince them? That’s what marketing is, no?

I think you ask a good question; that’s where I come down.