where were ya'll 3 yrs ago???? we could have used these ideas then. they're great!!! something to keep in mind when grandkids come along in aobut 20 yrs..
anyway, we did it the tough way. started tossing the binkies in the trash every time we saw one and hiding them too. explained to chloe about being a big girl and how she'd have to give them up. if she really wanted one then she'd have to find one herself at nap time and bedtime and every other time or learn to keep one put up where she could find it easily. we went through alot of hissy fits but that sure beat spending $5-$10 or so every 2 weeks to replace lost binkies. the whole process actually didn't last very long--about a week or so but not much more. chloe's teeth are a little crooked but alot of that crookedness is inherited and not from the binkies themselves.
generally we're like you--a four yr. old should not be on a binky. maybe they have a special stuffy puffy (animal) or blanky for comfort but not a binky. something for comfort is fine but binkies are for infants who are needing that "sucking" thing they naturally have as newborns. clearly a 4 yr. old is not an infant and should have been weaned off bottles and binkies by then and should have no need for such a thing unless they are a special needs child.
it is a natural process but there does come an time when some parents have to put their foot down and say no. you're the parent. you know what's best for your children. sometimes ya just gotta do things the hard way no matter what. if its where you believe enough is enough then go with your instincts and do it and don't worry much what everyone else says.