Google remembers that too, and this change allows Google to bypass those same execs when pushing out updates. The HAL layer will not change from version to version, meaning no driver support will be required from the OEM for new Android versions.

A move towards replacing an open OS with an entirely proprietary solution full of tracking by a single vendor is "a step in the right direction"?

There's thousands of solutions for how you can update core OS components, none of them require what Google's doing to open source.

The development is easier, but if you plan to distribute on other stores, google play services are useless and will make your development more time consuming as they are exclusive to devices with google play store.