Is SSL dying? Should I buy SSL certificates for my sites any more?

I'm planning to purchase a SSL certificate for one of my sites when I'm concerned about points made in these articles:

• WiredTree: The Most Significant Issue With SSL – And How To Solve It


• TechRepublic: POODLE vulnerability hastens the death of SSL 3.0


• Infosec Island: IPv6 - The Death of SSL


• This POODLE Bites: Exploiting The SSL 3.0 Fallback

Is SSL secure any more? What are they talking about? I thought SSL was bullet-proof, but now I'm confused.

If SSL is not secure any more, with regard to safeguarding the information exchanged between my clients and my server via HTTP, what are my options other than a SSL certificate?