[gojomo]

I wouldn't be so sure SearchWiki has no influence. It's data; Google has it; they didn't get where they are by ignoring free user-behavior data.

It's not explicit, just like all sorts of other ranking details and polcies are secret, to keep manipulators in the dark as long as possible.

[anuraggoel]

They explicitly state they don't use SearchWiki to influence ranking right now.

From http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/11/google-searchwiki-l...:

"At this time we aren't using SearchWiki to influence ranking but it is easy to see how that could happen in the future," says Marissa Mayer.

I suppose they are going to wait until they get a meaningful amount of user data before they start using it.

[gojomo]

It's already 6 months "in the future" from that statement. Google also didn't get where they are by waiting indefinitely to do 'easy' things.