http://drupal.org/project/node_expire adds a timer to a node, then after that timer ends, expires the node in some fashion (using http://drupal.org/project/rules). The idea is to create a module that sets the HTTP code to 410, or redirects to a 410 page (while sending the HTTP code), indicating to robots that the content is indeed gone.

• http://diveintomark.org/archives/2003/03/27/http_error_410_gone
• it would add, under admin/settings/error-reporting, a textbox to specify which page is the 410 page (like the one for 403 and 404)
  
• http://drupal.org/node/189105 is an issue where the Path Redirect module (rightly) says 410s should be handled by another project
• what module handles the redirect? Does it even redirect?

Node Status

• should "gone" be a separate status using http://drupal.org/project/workflow ?
• does the 'expired' flag (which Node Expire sets) constitute "Gone"?
  
• does a published status override the "gone"/"expired" status?

Since Node Expire sets a flag on the node as 'expired', then all that needs to be done is, if the 'expired' flag is set:

1. serve the HTTP code
2. serve the "Gone" page
3. there is no step 3