I suppose one has to define what a role of a godparent is and what the parent expects. I grew up not even knowing my godparents. I knew them only as people who ocassionally sent a gift. I have no more expectation than that from the close friends I asked to be godparents to my own children. To me, a godparent is that person willing to take on the responsibility of raising ones children in the event of a fatal emergency. That's a pretty big deal.

I'm not sure, cultural differences I guess. I've just never heard of godparenting involving the level of responsibility you allude to. Sounds to me more like free daycare