[johnegood]

BUT, aren't there examples of new domains being created and getting to the top quickly?

I know that this happens. I have a trivial example. I coined a term: "accidental homeschooler", and used it in a bunch of articles that I wrote and on my own website. As part of the marketing effort, I created a simple one page site on a domain: accidentalhomeschooler.com . Which in it's first week, went to the top for searches on "acccidental homeschooler".

Of course, there are virtually no searches on that term so google might only use the sandbox effect to slow a rise to the top on terms that get some volume....

thoughts?