Does 2.9999... equal 3?

I think this is an important question deserving of this bulletin board.

Personally I believe they are distinct numbers and that people who think they are equal are just sloppy and incompetent!

What do you think /sci/?

algebra
let 2.9999...=x
then 10x=29.9999...
10x-x=9x
29.9999...-2.9999...=27
so 9x=27 and 27/9=3