BeeDeeDubbleU - 4:48 am on Sep 9, 2009 (gmt 0)

the idea of one correct answer is anathema to the human spirit.

Precisely.

My own experience during the Google years is that they have been pretty benign, compared to many large organizations.

They have indeed but I believe that the writing was on the wall for them the moment they floated. Isn't it the case that they are becoming more and more profit driven and that this, inevitably, will have to continue at the expense of the overall quality of the results being delivered?

As they do so the public's love affair with Google may start to cool off.

And I also hope that at least one more very serious player shows up soon.

I agree, real competition for G would be great but unfortunately any competitor will also be driven by profit as opposed to what is best for the Internet and hence the World. Takes me back to my old crusade for a non profit search engine whose only interest is in delivering quality, untarnished results.