I'm probably slow to catch up with these things but I had no idea that if you enter a cryptic clue in a search engine you get the answer.
I knew you could do this with the - so called - quick crosswords but was astonished when doing the Guardian cryptic yesterday that all the answers were there.
I would hate to lose touch with all the ABers who have helped me out in the past. Think I'll try and forget about it !
But, on the other hand, these other sites do not parse the answers. And it's not like the friendly help we find on here - tho' I agree they have their uses. Some tell you where the clue has been used and it looks as if some clues are regularly recycled.
I will use them if I'm really stuck on maybe one or two just to finish off. Not much chance of getting answers other than here for the likes of Sunday Express Skeleton though.
I agree with Whitehill, it's only by learning about how a clue is comprised and parses do we gain the knowledge to be able to solve better without help and those sites don't do that.
Yes I love the friendly help and contact on here and am always amazed by how much people know and the helpful way questions are answered.
I don't think Ill be using that other site much if at all.