I have started to consider Google's site: operator as the only tool that doesn't noticeably "game" the results. What's the reality, though? Have the results for

I have started to consider Google's site: operator as the only tool that doesn't noticeably "game" the results. What's the reality, though? Have the results for site: searches actually also declined in quality during recent years, due to Google's general policy changes? Maybe somebody with a more analytical eye could elaborate on this. Thanks.