Without Google, the web would be mostly inaccessible.
Too true.
And without Google there would be no street view, nor satellite imagery (even though others have jumped on the bandwagon). All of which required vast mountains of cash, that could only have come from selling their customer's data, customer data being their only asset. I think it is the fact that they continue to be devious that bothers me, their privacy policies that scan ok until you read it properly, etc. Then suddenly the shock sets in, you realise what you just agreed to.
They are not alone in dodgy and devious privacy policies, but I think maybe they delude themselves, more than others, that 'we won't notice'. I find that a little offensive.