I'd just have a hard time thinking that this data won't some day become very important in their algorithm, yet they stand by their statements that this is just to provide users with a "personalized search". A year or so from now they'll have quite a bit of data... be hard for them not to use it imho. What do you think, is "personalized search" the next cog in the wheel of SEO?
I dont think so... Because if they are, SERP algo. will be mixed up with spam. (based on my understanding about it.)
They will probably re-analyze their position if in, as you say, a year or so, the impact of the "Promote"/"Remove" features on the SERPs will be considerable and, thus, deemed as relevant. I wouldn't consider spam/fraudulent clicks a threat: Big G already has the technology to keep them to a reasonably low level, they're doing it quite well with AdSense.
Seems logical that they would. But I think it's tricky. That would move IT-related results higher up in the SERPs than non-IT results, simply because more users looking for IT content will use the feature. Will be difficult to keep it in balance, maybe they'll give it "some"importance, but rather minor.
No, its a good idea but it can be easily taken advantage of by spammers. If google did that it would ruin them as a search engine. Just think, a search engine run by spammers.
Knowing Google, they track everything, and those votes are surely not data free. Meaning, they know who voted, how often they voted, what city, where,when, keyword, everything. Using unique value of the votes could play a good roll, and I am sure it will influence results even if it's just a little bit.