Bit of a shameless jag, but my band just started a Pledgemusic thing, so we can get our new album done all proper like (ahem, http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4451785, ahem) which made me think about what people thought of it as a method of releasing, especially after that 'costs of being in a band' shitstorm that erupted a while back.

Is it good? Or just annoying? Do you think differently of bands that do them?