If you want an apples-to-apples comparison, why not look at the actual physical devices that Google is selling? To the extent that Google and VW are "competing

If you want an apples-to-apples comparison, why not look at the actual physical devices that Google is selling? To the extent that Google and VW are "competing for the same workforce", the folks writing code for the Nest, OnHub, or heck even Android are the ones you want to be thinking about anyway... ...And more importantly, the implications for the folks buying and installing these products are a hell of a lot closer to those pertaining to VW's ECUs. If you're gonna argue for a level playing field, it probably helps to start with teams that are playing the same game, or at least one that's reasonably similar. Right now, you're arguing that Google's bobsled team would unfairly compete with VW's baseball players, ignoring that Google fields a cricket team as well...