This
> there are no special breaks for Google).
and this are not the same thing. There are absolutely "special breaks" for Google, particularly (though not solely) since they are now the server of choice for a huge percentage of the email being sent and received, whether @gmail.com or on Gsuite accounts of various types.
So even if there were some kind of massive spam event, Google isn't going to block emails from its own IP blocks or domains from reaching Gmail or Gsuite customers. And frankly, I would be shocked if any of the various DNS blocklists that people use for determining who's a dirty spammer would actually put a Google IP block on there without massive and obvious changes in Googles mode of operation.
Meanwhile, us mere mortals, if we dare to try to set up our own mail server, can be listed in a blacklist because of a) something the previous owner of the IP address did, b) something someone else in the same class B block did, or c) something that was never expected before, but now because of escalation by spammers, it's required without any documentation. And then the blacklist just doesn't respond to requests for reconsideration or elaboration because obviously, we're dirty spammers, and why should we be listened to?
