Google Analytics isn't better at anything other than their marketing has convinced everyone that it is a must have. If you believe 100% of the data from GA is accurate, then I have a bridge to sell you.
The problem is that companies with a presence in the US can be forced to break the law of either the US or the EU. It's illegal to hand over the information to the US government, but it might also be illegal not to.
Only legally for the US. Those processes aren't legal for the EU, so the transfer is illegal (for an EU web site).
The government can always just ask. Very little data in the US is protected.
edit: but you can be required to by law. You're right.
What about the cookie popups, with the "accept" vs. "more info" choices? Is that legal, then?
In all cases where you see a banner for accepting cookies, the company behind it is doing something nasty to the users. (i have yet to see a counter-example to that)
