its been awhile

Wow, I don't know if I remember how to make a post...
Making the switch from the Organic side of Google and Yahoo SERPs has not been easy. In other words, changing my mind-set that SEM doesn't work and SEO is the only way to go isn't as easy as flipping a switch.
I am convinced of one thing for sure though, BOTH are important to have a successful Web Presence. Yes, a well-optimized site will serve you well for relevant searches but what if you have a statewide or even nationwide practice? Do you have months, even years to wait for your site to index properly and rank among the top ten results? If so, great. If not, you need SEM. You need to place some PPC ads on the first page of Google and Yahoo to compliment your organic (SEO) efforts.
Let me assure you, if organic results were the only place you needed to be there would be no Google Empire as we know it today. The PPC side of the SERPs are the "cash cow" of Google.
I'm not convinced that either ONE strategy is better than the other. What I am convinced of is this, you better be in as many places as possible if you want consistent traffic.