Not sure that you
should have known better.
Redirects are just technology available. There are very legitimate uses for them. But like most things, some have used the technology for not so legitimate reasons. And link cloaking just sounds nefarious.
It comes down to what the intent/purpose is.
Awww shucks on the Revenue article. That's very kind of you. Don't tell anyone but....Lisa P got me drunk so I would agree to doing that photo shoot thing that went with the interview. I still can't believe she talked me into doing that. LOL.