The idea that the biggest reason to have PGP is to protect ourselves from some nefarious gov't entity is silly, though in the longer-run it can definitely help

The idea that the biggest reason to have PGP is to protect ourselves from some nefarious gov't entity is silly, though in the longer-run it can definitely help make this happen. PGP/PKI affords incredible technological advantages. If webmail providers offered it, OpenID (etc., etc.) would become quickly redundant (e.g.).