This may be true, but I think you are turning the discussion in another direction. The talk here is of Google's current/primary business model. It is, in fact,

This may be true, but I think you are turning the discussion in another direction. The talk here is of Google's current/primary business model. It is, in fact, based on the open Web as was stated previously. Sure, they could buy other properties. But that just implies a changing business model (ex: content destinations). For that matter you could extend the argument and say that they might buy Facebook or Twitter. But the need for them to buy such destinations in order to continue their advertising business actually itself speaks to the closing of the Web.