Faux-wood paneling is the decorating scourge of the 60's and 70's, especially the really cheap stuff. Often it is glued to the drywall behind, making it a little difficult to remove. Painting it can be a chore, but it can be done successfully. However, with all that prep and work you still have paneling, afterall. I would first check to see how it has been applied to the wall behind. If the wall over which it was applied had been primed and painted it may be easier to just remove the paneling and sand over the glue and then reprime and paint. If over wallpaper you probably only have to remove the paper and prime and paint. Paneling in my basement was applied (glued liberally) over unfinished drywall and it was a bit of a pain to remove the glue as it tore off the backing paper and these holes had to be filled in.
You can achieve a smooth wall by filling in all the grooves with compound and sanding them out. I would suggest using drywall mesh tape to guard against cracks. Caulking may also be effective in the grooves, but all must be sanded smooth.
Another approach is to use drywall compound spread over the paneling in a thin coat and given a "stucco" affect by leaving troweling marks on the wall. This has a very European look to it and can be very striking due to all the texture. You can apply a glaze over this to further accent the trowel marks and this is stunning. Colored plaster is also available so you can stucco and color in the same step. Ask your local DIY store about getting the plaster in the color you want.
Of course, you may just paint over paneling as it is, making sure it is very clean and the sheen is sanded off before priming. This will give a very "country cottage" look, not very sophisticated but may be charming in the right setting.
Follow the link below to HGTV's site where a wonderful and informative article has been posted on effectively painting your paneling. To paint or not to paint? It's up to you!
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/decorating/article/0,1793,HGTV_3545_2100166,00.html
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