signor_john - 5:28 pm on Sep 8, 2009 (gmt 0)

You got that right, way to much philosophical debate here. I like Google, but let’s be real; they have taken the concept of greed to such a whole new level most people just can’t comprehend it...

Actually, their greed has been remarkably restrained. They've resisted the temptation to offer PFI, for example, and most of the ads on Google's SERPs are over on the right where, according to Google's own AdSense heat map, users are least likely to see and click them. Why the self-restraint? Because Google's honchos are smart enough to know that letting greed get in the way of product quality is the quickest way to turn off users. (Remember LookSmart? Now, there's an example of self-destructive greed.)