Google Penalizing Use of Web Beacons

We would like to use OpenX to be our ad server/stat analysis, but are weary of their software because it uses something called web beacons (or web bugs), which are essentially 1x1 pixel images that are placed in div's that have their visibility property set to 'hidden'.

Now to me, this screams potential SE penalization, because 1 pixel images and div's with content using a property of 'hidden' are straight from the day 1 blackhat cookbook of 1999. Now their documentation says that it needs to use web beacons or the entire software may not function correctly.

Could anyone here with an understanding of what web beacons are tell me if there is anything to worry about by using these web beacons? We would have advertising on nearly every page of a 1,000 page website that currently does very well in the serp's... so we are very troubled by the fact that we would be placing multiple of these web beacons on every page, with fears that google or yahoo would see these wierd things as spammy or suspect.

I look forward to any opinions or guidance concerning my concerns on this topic. Thanks for your help.

I hear what you are saying...is there any way you can set up a testing ground using a site of your own that doesn't really matter? I know that's a long winded way to go about it but if you are at all worried it might be the way forward.