This had very little to do with Google being `evil', the NSA, or any of that (despite the title, I realize now it's a bit misleading).

Rather, it has to do with me not keeping all of my services in the same basket and not being dependant on the integrations between services run by the same company. I would have happily switched my services to Microsoft or Amazon if they provided something better and am still happy to go back to Google for things that I can't find a good alternative too (I still search with Google on occasion, still use Google Books, Google Patent search, etc.)

That may not be true - it's just that Google have been a lot smarter at hiding their 'dodgyness' than Apple, and certainly than Microsoft.

If you have time: https://medium.com/surveillance-state/32ba2b38c219 - this is part of an overall move towards 'a bit more evil' than the general public is aware of.

It's surprise still there are people think in this way.

Yet, at the end you can find them in the same category. How can that be? :-)

Evil is boolean if you ask me.

Corporations don't deserve a second chance either.

I have been somewhat of a Google fanboy (alright, too strong-a-term, but you get the idea). I encourage people to leave Google - because you know what? If enough people leave, Google will fight EVEN harder to stop blanket monitoring. When I hear Google scream from the top of their lungs "innocent until proven guilty" and "burden of proof required" then I will believe they are doing enough. Maybe Google should change it's background color to black? Until then, I fully support anyone who looks for alternatives.