here is one piece of getty anecdotal experience...

i've been doing micro for a couple years now and made the getty application, along with an edited selection of unlicensed 'non-micro' stuff on a web album.  they replied to me a month later with 'no-thanks' and further that applicants can never re-apply.  such is life.  on the other hand, a friend who is on getty for a few years, has reported that business is really slumped in the macro world and that they are taking very few new contributors. 

good topic, this is a gray area and differnt agents/reviewers treat diffrntly.  some commercial landmarks when 'prominent' in the frame are taboo unless editorial for many agents, example cn tower in toronto.  same with identifiable logos.   

quirky thing, i have one skyline on ft that represents 80% of all my sales from admittedly small 'trial' port of 50 shots on that site...wierd.