John Young has been at this for years, and has drawn flak from all governments from the information that he has been posting to his site, so I wouldn't call it black propaganda (nor take everything presented here as an absolute guide), but I pretty much agree with everything else you said. His self proclaimed "amateur"[0] ways seems to me to be quite effective especially when sensitive information does get posted (which are cached,copied elsewhere, and removes the motive elements that are with other organizations/people that do similar things) before he gets the take-down requests. Though I have to admit, some of the things that have (not) happened to him compared to others like him make me wonder…
[0]: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20011106-281.html