If backlinks were not scanned/counted

[gkd_uk]

Hi

What would it be like if backlinks were no longer scanned/counted by search engines?

Would this affect webmasters?

Thanks

 

[bochgoch]

Links sales would go down the pan ... except for the traffic only type links that Mat Cutts is so keen on

To be honest, I've always found the importance of links in assessing site quality by SE's a bit strange - it's too easy to manipulate & too easy ... there must be a better way?