The majority of gold, and advertisements for gold, come from hacked accounts.
I could care less, if people are selling gold, but don't like that others are being screwed over to supply it.

I read a blue post about a year ago, stating Blizzard has averaged 30,000 accounts banned each year. Which isn't a whole lot, out of 11 million active accounts. However, the sellers and exploiters are banned.

I know two friends out of the fifteen or so who play wow, who regularly buy gold.. Their logic is sound, can work for 2 hours a month and supply themselves with a week worth of farming in gold, and its "entertainment" money. If Blizzard were to ban the buyers, instead of just the sellers (ie go after the "Johns"), I wonder how many would continue to buy gold.

Assuming they move towards an authentication system. Gold won't come from keylogged accounts anymore, which will be a bonus. But as long as there is a market for it, they will find a way to provide it and profit.