Everyone I have contacted says you can still mine with block erupters however you are unlikely to find a block. So there is no point!
Is this true or are people just scare mongering because they don't want you to find a block and are being greedy because they own more expensive hardware?
Everyone encourages you to use pools but no pool is fair. Last month I got 0.00000719 satoshi from a pool for a whole month of continuous mining. you can earn more than that in a second from a faucet!

Is it really impossible to mine bitcoins from block eruptors these days? And if so then why are people misleading newbies by selling them this equipment?

Hi this is my very first attempt at bfgminer and slush pool..... I have attached a pic. Is this actually working? Noob here.
Thanks

Hi I bought a new computer and I have downloaded the blockchain.
I backed up my wallet so I still have my bitcoins but my regular receiving address is gone.
Can I get it back or is it gone forever?

I have some pending with microwallet and they will probably send it to my old receiving address, will I still receive them if they do? Thanks

After downloading and syncronising "Bitcoin Core" full node software, it then begins to help the network by using your PC power to validate transactions (i think).

Does this mean you are mining solo?
Or do you still have to buy ridiculously priced hardware and then join a pool?

The main bitcoin site gives no info about this at all! And people like me cannot find any answers using google.

If it doesn't mine then why would it be validating transactions?
Does any software actually mine using your own DESKTOP PC resources rather than buying third party hardware?

Thanks guys