You are correct. As the article I linked to in my original post points out, there are many negative consequences to unsolicited bulk email. My post was not refuting that, rather I was trying to point out that posts such as •Re: Re: how do I extract contact data from websites? do nothing to stop the problem.

So, as I said in Re(4): How do I extract contact data from websites?, 'write filters, lobby your government, write secure software to reduce the number of open relays, but don't waste time with posts like that.'

Enough said.