> P.S. Everyone who notes "Google Analytics is easy to evade" are correct but missing the broader point -- the majority of web users will never do that. This i

> P.S. Everyone who notes "Google Analytics is easy to evade" are correct but missing the broader point -- the majority of web users will never do that. This is an important point here because it's in stark contrast with Google e-mail. Google's e-mail servers are exceptionally difficult to evade. I am (apparently) able to evade Google's attempts to track my web browsing habits with Google Analytics. I can take responsiblity for that myself. This is a technically difficult opt-out process is IMHO against the spirit of "don't be evil", but at least there is an option. On the other hand, I am totally unable to prevent Google from building an accurate profile of my e-mail habits. The only way I can opt-out here is by significantly curtailing my e-mail habits (or by insisting on PGP, which will have the same effect). This is significantly more frightening to me - I have no choice.