Stake or not to stake?

I seem to remember reading years ago why trees should not be staked, but can't remember the details and if it would apply to my current situation.  Just planted a 15' maple and the winds have been relentless and gale force.  I keep thinking they will let up at some point, but  every day the gusts have been in the 30s.  Right now I've got a few bags of wood chips piled up at the base, and the tree is still looking like the leaning tower of Pisa.  Advice?

If it's a new tree and it's windy, I think it's ok to stake it until it's established.  But then let it fight for itself as soon as possible or it will become dependent upon the stake.

Thank you!!  Best way to stake?  Best materials?  Are there techniques?  

I normally stake new trees as well as placing a wire cage around them.  I remove the stake after about a year.  

There is a nice (free) manual on tree care available here, and it has a discussion on staking on page 51.  (I've also started a thread for that manual here, and I hope to add some content info and maybe even drawings once I finish perusing it later this year.)

A few reasons for hesitancy when it comes to staking:
-Potential root damage.  If a stake is inserted right next to a large tree after planting, there is risk of hitting and damaging the root itself via the stake.
-Potential girdling.  The center (heartwood) of a tree is non-living, unlike the cambium which is where lots of life happens.  This cambium is just inside the inner bark.  Tight wire-like guy-line materials, if forgotten and left on for too long, will slowly girdle or choke the tree, potentially killing it.  
-It can be a 'crutch'.  Trees, like people, need the right amount of stress to perform well and grow.  Too much is bad, but too little is also bad.  Wind stress actually makes wood stronger, and strengthens root systems.  This was determined during a Biosphere 2 tree growth study ("Biodome" safety dance anyone?)
-Time and cost to install and maintain/remove.

A method to determine when to remove a stake (proposed in the referenced Tree Steward Manual) is the "wiggle test".

1. Grab tree at ~3/4 trunk height.
2. Wiggle 2"-4" all around.
3. Check the root collar for movement.
4. If no soil movement, staking may be removed.