Yeah - but.
As a primer it's sort of OK. OTOH it does carry messages - like use this hosting company, click on my forum...
The basic problem for most noobs is that they don't know what questions to ask, so telling them to search the net for free information is a bit telling someone to perform brain surgery without defining brain or surgery.
There are lots more noobs at the moment because of 'credit crunch' and loads of people are looking to make money on the side. 99% have heard the phrase 'Internet Marketing' and don't have a clue what it means - basically because it covers such a wide range of activity. So, by all means make this a sticky but add a health warning that it's VERY basic and it's only useful as a jump off point.
To answer the second point - noobs flail about looking for info - Google throws up stuff in this forum for all sorts of IM information, so they land here and take one look at the free ebooks and it's heaven with the gates shut!