Just wondering out loud here, but since use of the tracker is technically a TOS violation, any chance that Google penalizes sites that are this frequently queried? From http://www.google.com/intl/en/terms_of_service.html "using any software which sends queries to Google to determine how a website or webpage "ranks" on Google for various queries;" It certainly wouldn't be the first or only case of Google splitting kneecaps for trying to work the system.
That would seem like another case of "what you could do to harm a competitor so we can't really penalize for it but please don't do it anyway." edit: and it uses your API
It's not a TOS violation since it's going throught the Google API. edit: you clowns beat me. It's funny to see how paranoid people get at times like these. Google really has some people by the BALLS!
Crazy Rob - thank you for your kind response. It's most generous of you to share your wisdom and experience. One day I hope to reach your level of humility, and will be able to express a thought in such a way that it doesn't make me "paranoid" and "a clown". Again, my deepest thanks. Have a great day.
http://www.google.com/apis/api_terms.html In the event of a conflict because Google's default TOS and the API TOS, the API TOS prevail. Even beside that point, when you check ranks, Google doesn't know the URL you are looking for, only the keyword.