zel - like Raw Alex said, if the host is down, the link would give you a "do dns" error message & no one blacklists for that.
A 404 error means that the page on your server is no longer there & that is a blacklistable offense in pretty much everyone's eyes.
Understand?
As for part 2, if you on the blacklist & major link lists use that blacklist, that means your submits are not getting thru.
Post your email addy & I'll look on the blacklist & see what I can find out
