The old idea that "well let's throw out a lot of links (link spamming)in a hurry will help your Google PR" certainly doesn't work anymore. Google has let that go for awhile but a good effort at SEO will NOT include that black hat tactic anymore. It's really best practice to provide good content on your website that will attract other sites to want to link back to you. Good backlinks will no doubt be what Google will be looking for in the foreseeable future.
Yes, the quality links are highly recommended. So you need to focus the quality links only, not garbage links.
As per the Google, Excessive reciprocal links or excessive link exchanging ("Link to me and I'll link to you.") is a Link Scheme.
Yeah, they are different, but link spamming still works very well in my personal opinion. I know very few others will agree with that, but too each their own.
Sometimes this thing of links, time, Quantity, quality is good. But once you get someone that tells google you are doing wrong, without a trial can kill all the good work you do to try to get quality links
Yeah, Google has definitely shifted toward a liking for quality backlinks. There is a line though, getting a lot of mediocre backlinks still works well, just not with black hat methods.
I have to agree with trevopoli, a mixture of mediocre backlinks scattered with quality relevant links won't hurt your site.
Yes you need quality backlinks, but you also need quantity to rank good in search engines, it takes time.
Content is what Google wants. And a user friendly experience for their users. But you are right, spam is never good. Even when it works its NOT a long term plan. You will always come out ahead when you provide solid useful content. Then you can build natural links that will last forever and that's the only way to truly have an "evergreen" website.
Yeah, these days it's really "quality over quantity". It's better to stay away from any back link software that puts links to your website on autopilot or order unreliable service. The way to go is to acquire links naturally, via guest blogging, press releases, comments, etc.
Yes of course! I really hate it when they say my submission is a spammy one! Im doing my best on not to destroy my website!