I've always assumed that Gmail gave Google the opportunity to see how people actually type (use words), so they can link topics together and improve their searc

I've always assumed that Gmail gave Google the opportunity to see how people actually type (use words), so they can link topics together and improve their search capabilities. The value of this would exceed the cost of email I would imagine. Also, if you use iCloud+, then you can attach a domain to your account and use iCloud email. Obviously only good for individual usage, but it's been extremely reliable for me.