I am 98% certain they did learn from Buzz and did not create a public profile for you without you clicking something to add Plus to your Gmail account. Edit: j

I am 98% certain they did learn from Buzz and did not create a public profile for you without you clicking something to add Plus to your Gmail account. Edit: just tried it. After creating a gmail accoun in mobile firefox, I had to click through an interstitial ad page punting the Plus app, and then find the hidden Cancel button on a G+ sign up form that was prefilled, and then I got to my new mailbox. So, it doesn't ever publish private data without consent, but the UX is definitively evil in pretending to hold your mail hostage.