Spybot a second-rate spyware app?

There are indications that Spybot is now a second-rate spyware app. I won't disagree with that, but I and others who now use Spybot would like to know what is now the best stand-alone (no anti-virus or firewall included) free anti-spyware program available.

In addition to Spybot, I use SpywareBlaster, which is supposed to be excellent, but frankly I've never been aware of its doing anything. Is that because Spybot has already done it, or is SpywareBlaster a stealth program that works without letting me know it's providing some help? Or none of the above?

 

Neither my wife nor I have used Spybot in the past four years. We switched over to Counterspy four years ago and then when we purchased our new computers last summer they came with Webroot's Spysweeper...not a very expensive program.