Due to the recent Google crackdowns, do you agree using SEO? Is SEO needed?

Cases/Incidents:
http://increseo.com/blog/search-engi...message-clear/
http://www.ebusiness-strategies.co.u...7paidlinks.htm
http://www.jimkukral.com/google-crac...eefall-begins/
http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/archive...log-crackdown/
http://www.marketingblog.eu/marketin...s_crackdo.html
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=380960
http://www.blogstorm.co.uk/blog/text...ked-on-google/