Ironically enough I have the dreaded aol, and don't get a single pop-up that I don't want...
Some sites that open new windows get blocked, but i can tell it to allow them and always get to see them as well.
The pop-up blocker may as well be the only convenience of AOL that I would miss if we were to switch to any other service as it has always worked surprisingly well for me...
As for purchasing things because of an ad...
does anybody remember those 3d glasses ads? the one's that appear at the top of this site?
I bought a pair...

didn't know they existed otherwise...:-) So I guess not all ads are bad, and if they are providing a service to us, they are not all that bad, such as the ones here are pretty unobtrusive, all except those fdang o'le talking ones that give me a heart attack every time...:-)
