By putting the search into the URL, Chrome is able to track every page you go to (since the URL is perhaps a search term) and how long you stay there, and what

By putting the search into the URL, Chrome is able to track every page you go to (since the URL is perhaps a search term) and how long you stay there, and what page you go to from each page you visit. With search suggestions on (the default), they get that even for FF users. Not only that, but every GET argument on every page is sent to Google as well, since they are perhaps search terms - so as you type your content is being sent; You can imagine the value even BEFORE getting to the fact that it generates more searches. Which is a shame, since I used to use the URL bar to search my browsing history and the Search bar to search the net, and the whole UI was so much improved, even ignoring all the times I accidentally am sent to a search results page I didn't want.