Sure I would, but like most half-way decent programmers, you couldn't pay me enough to code spam bots.
I've blocked a huge volume of comment spam on my sites by blocking certain malformed HTTP headers. The authors couldn't be bothered to check if they were getting it right. I don't think most spam bot authors are A) very well paid or B) very good.
Don't forget that it's a dynamic system. As more of the low-hanging fruit emails get picked by spam email harvesters, then there is more value in the harder to decode emails since they haven't been spammed. There is a tipping point where it would be "worth it" for someone to start to decode the harder other types of obfuscated emails.
Possibly, but couldn't you argue that the low-hanging fruit email addresses are more likely to be profitable to spammers? Which of these two internet users is more likely to buy your replica rolex: danny@aol.com, or AOL: danny (or danny at aol, or danny+don'tspamme at teh a oh l's dot com)?
My point is that users smart enough to disguise their emails from spammers are more likely to be wary of their wares.
I've blocked a huge volume of comment spam on my sites by blocking certain malformed HTTP headers. The authors couldn't be bothered to check if they were getting it right. I don't think most spam bot authors are A) very well paid or B) very good.