The way you phrased the question sounds to me like "what are the shortcomings, leaving aside these terrible shortcomings?"
Having said that: Google is not in the business of making your life easier, but in the business of selling you ads. The data that Google collects about you is incredibly powerful, allowing them to go from a "simple" manipulation to sell you stuff you wouldn't otherwise buy, to full-scale blackmailing you if they see it fit (not saying that this is happening, but if they wanted to, who would stop them?).
It's putting too much power in the hands of a single, amoral entity (like all corporations). That's not good.
Having said that: Google is not in the business of making your life easier, but in the business of selling you ads. The data that Google collects about you is incredibly powerful, allowing them to go from a "simple" manipulation to sell you stuff you wouldn't otherwise buy, to full-scale blackmailing you if they see it fit (not saying that this is happening, but if they wanted to, who would stop them?).
It's putting too much power in the hands of a single, amoral entity (like all corporations). That's not good.