CS - any mudcatters who want to use the site for gratuitous self-publication have never had problems doing so.
Some of it is up-front - SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION THREAD...
Others just use every posting they make as an advert for themself - Dick Miles is a current master of the technique.
Others on the forum welcome the security of relative obscurity, and the fact that we can tell people where we will be without also advertising to burglars, the fact that our home may be unoccupied on a specific date.

Geoff,

a) Sure, long term regular users may know of the SHAMELESS thread which you have to choose to specifically access (not really the way advertising usually works). I've been here over a year and only recently noticed it, and probably won't avail myself of it too often. But casual passers by, interested by all the Google & Share Thread addititions stuff won't be aware of that thread.

b) The security comes in the free choice (available in all forums) not to divulge personal info!

Woof ;-)