Bill,
If anyone choses to believe that it exists... then they are entitled to that opinion
But as usual.... unless they are a Google employee with knowledge of the inner workings, then as always, it's just an opinion, maybe a "supported" opinion.. but it it rarely a proven fact...
So if I am asked to disprove an unproven fact.. I will decline.. as any "argument" will again be just an opinion.
There is no ONE theory of what 'the sandbox' is and or how it functions, and as I said they are all just theories.
I believe it would not be hard for one of these people to "prove" or "disprove" the theory by grabbing a domain and opening a site, and testing the theory... but have they? Not that I am aware of?
Fact: - I got a new domain
Fact: - I targetted specific (and somewhat competitive) keywords.
Fact: - It got PR(for what its worth) on the first PR update.
Fact: - it is ranked(quite well) for its targetted keywords. - less than 3 mths after it went live.
Fact: - I have neglected it since I sent it live - and therefore believe it would be far better ranked if I had continued to improve it.
So where is the "sandbox"?
My THEORY is that these people are creating CRAP sites, and ignoring the fundamentals of what Google believes "IS" a good/decent/quality site, and then winging that they aren't number one for a competitive keyword..
The sandbox theory is just their way of avoidng the responsibility for creating crap and promoting it the wrong way..
DD