Sales are still strong there for me.  If it wasn't for Christmas week, this would probably be a BME.

People might download Christmas images they can use next year but how many people are organized and methodical in their work?  I bet a lot of people would re-download an image because it is cheap and quick to find on SS and it saves time searching through backed up DVD's.

Well organised designers buy a 500GB HD for around USD 150, and have all photos online at all times. That's what I do. I can find most of my own and any downloaded photos within seconds.

For me SS continues to grow compared to iStock, which decreases each month. And I upload only a few images each month.

Louoates,

I don't read every single thread so don't know if anyone's already mentioned it, but that avatar of yours is somewhat disturbing (but I like it anyway).  I guess we don't know who everyone really is here.  Maybe that's a good thing??   

I hate up the dilution factor. We are all going to run into at some point (still not sure when that will be), but it's coming. There can't be endless amounts of uploads without equal growth on the buyer side of things. My sales have been flat at SS for over a year, but then I'm a slow uploader. This is probably why I do much better at IS and DT.

Hugh,
   You ought to see my dentist avatar.
Lou

SS is dead in the water for me as well but I rarely upload there anymore. My port of 680 images continue to make me a few sales each month and for now I will leave it at that. Time is money and as the inspectors seem to think my new images aren't needed there I don't waste my time.
At the rate things are going I will be exclusive at iStock by the end of 2008 if only by default. I have more fun there anyway.