I read the OP as pointing out that image hosting, like email, is an awful business to be in, but is something on which tons of other services depend. Think of

I read the OP as pointing out that image hosting, like email, is an awful business to be in, but is something on which tons of other services depend. Think of it as analogous to sanitation. Being in the garbage hauling business isn't something that really revs that many people up, but civilization literally depends on it.