Aspartame: a good sugar alternative or not?

Aspartame and cancer are constantly linked in the media. Aspartame is such a widely used artificial sweetener that naturally it's been under scrutiny for quite a long time. I've personally known many friends who suffered from headaches and small seizures after consuming even a single diet soda.

Although I've not had this happen to me, the research I've performed on the chemical makes me look for it on all foods and drinks I consume. The battle lines between those who think aspartame is harmless and those that believe it directly contributes to cancer development are heavily scored in the world, but where do you sit?

The issue of safety was delved into over at The Diet Channel, and although the overall conclusion was that this substance was relatively safe (for the majority, this is true), I'm still no fan of it. How about you?