I kinda figured. I know from experience that (for all their faults) gmail at least doesn't sell addresses.
For one-off message board sign-ups (other than ET of course) I'll use guerrillamail to avoid this issue.
I tried Guerilla Mail to register a Subway card on which I have over 1200 points (they changed their policy and you have to register card now)... and Subway blocks it as an "invalid email". Bastards.