You are the one fetishizing Google. I know MS and Google are both slimy. Google just has a better PR machine.
> and the only defense
I am not defending MS.
> What's your estimate of people who have tried two or more search or mapping engines and have intentionally settled on the Microsoft product?
Most normal people don't know what a search engine and just go with the default.
http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/06/google-a-web-browser-is-not...
http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/17/yeah-what-is-a-browser-anyw...