Although they are real I use them for training webmaster and for building prototype websites before I move them to their primary domain. in fact even before I came to WA I used to use to Hostgator subdomains as prototypes for live websites. it comes from 40 years of IT management and wanting the multi tier cycle. but that are accessible from the internet. you could use them totally and nothing else.

You could actually buy one dot-com domain and create 500 subdomains of your own for free. Each one holding a separate website.

Joe, they are real, although they are sub domains. People think they are not working, but they do. Many members stayed starters for a couple of month working on their site and used FREE info and training (search for topics in the search bar above) before going premium. Others went premium and didn't buy a domain, making money with rubix sites. Google will treat them just like any other sites. Hope that helps

John