This by npub1ytqxefyrsmvdr9yk5mn2ec6juglxar0x8u3r4ucpnc7nu6fwy7tsyz9rrp (npub1ytq…9rrp) mirrors my recollections of the zeitgeist; the pivotal moments revolved around the founders giving in to fear, and through fear, turning asshats that sold the FOMO best into petty dictators who had free rein to put down upstart googlyness that might get in their way (see also: the saga of JBQ).
Too much of that, and the org stopped being able to fight back. It's Ruth's Google now, well and truly.
https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/202x/2024/01/15/Google-2024