[SquareWheel]

I find referrals scummy when somebody is presenting a recommendation because you don't know if they're just interested in the reward or not. That's not what this is though. It's a tool to find domains, and whether there is a referral code or not doesn't change the validity of that domain name. It's just some payback to the dev for providing a free service.

Or perhaps I'm misunderstanding why you are against referral codes in tools like this.

[jasonlotito]

It's not the referral. I'm pretty sure that's understood, accepted, and in many cases like this, encouraged.

The issue is who the referral is with: GoDaddy.

[deno]

Because of their supporting/co-sponsoring SOPA. I’m not expressing an opinion here, it’s just probably what sturob is referring to.

Or their CEO killing elephants, or their sexist advertising. Yeah, I guess there’s plenty to choose from from the hate jar, even if you think they were punished enough for SOPA.

[joering2]

Nobody force you to register with GoDaddy, and knowing this facts, you shouldn't.

But this still does not change the fact that IF GD gives the biggest $ for referrals, then that make sense for OP to integrate it, especially since he is not charging anything for this service and he made it on his spare time -- so I don't see the problem with this.

[deno]

There’s always more to consider than just $/referral. For example blinking, pop-up ads might be more lucrative in the short term, but in the long term could turn to be too annoying, and end up putting off some users. The choice of monetization opportunities says a lot about the character and priorities a company has.

Like I said, I don’t want to take sides and start a flame war here, but it’s a fact that dealing with GoDaddy is controversial, and no company operates in void — your choice of registrar or ad network has certain implications, that ought to be considered.

[jqueryin]

Hey might be referring to the fact that people don't like GoDaddy very much given the recent bashings and mass exodus to NameCheap :)

[rhizome]

"Bashing" implies injustice.