Thank you for a very informative post,
@namemarket. It is definitely true that Google can on a dime change aspects of search that have significant impact for domains, such as the reversed word case you mention. If they gave significant benefit to secure pre-load spaces, for exampple, their own recent extensions would suddenly have a huge advantage. I worry of the power Google have in so much.
I have a few times invested in reverse domains (they come in other extensions as well for example lots of words followed by top), but I noted that for the most part the market pays good prices only for domain names that are in preferred order. Correct order is possible with .best, but certainly not for all words. I have taken advantage of the Dynadot promotion to speculate on some and will see if .best takes off. In almost all cases I kept away from words where the order was reversed (not promoting mine, not even up for sale anywhere, but to demonstrate what I mean I took names like touch.best, named.best and timeless.best that all seem proper English. to me at least
).
By the way, I agree with your view that we should not allow those promoting particular registries or other services unfettered starting of threads. I need to reread NPs rules, but I am not sure this is not already covered by a rule? I am not opposed to those promoting something being given a platform, but I support the idea of them being somehow labelled (not exactly as you propose, but I try to be a compromise person on most things.
.) You are not allowed to advertise on NPs, except when paying for it, and I wonder if some posts are getting near to that.
I would not want us to restrict those who run registries, registrars, marketplaces and other services from NPs. In fact I think we should encourage it. But they should not be able to use all of NPs as a place to promote their particular products.
I think it will be some time before any of us know whether .best will take off or fizzle. My personal view is the extension is a nice match to some domain name phrases, a niche I have a lot of interest in, so I decided to try some for a year.
Thanks again for your well written post.
Bob
