@Gawain I like what you have to say and you are right in some ways and in some ways you are not. I am not well enough informed to support a solid counterpoint to my objections to what you are saying so I will save that for another day and thread. Thanks again for your comments you have some good points. As to over reacting in my case not really I didn't use goggle much anyways so I will barely miss their services.
Like I said before, I totally understand anyone's concerns over Google's shift in their policy (whether it's rational or irrational). I, for one, think this was part of their long term plan from the time they started Gmail and Google Docs oh so long ago. All these "free" services have a cost to them. We always knew that Google's data mining was top shelf, the company makes enormous amounts of money in this line of work - it's an amazing model.
Now we know the true "cost" of these "free" services. Part of me would not be surprised if there wasn't a tiered pay service down the road which allows users, small/large businesses to opt out (I pay $20/year so I don't have ads in my Yahoo! mail). Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, while Microsoft may not "scan" email content, we do know how "cloud" dependent WP7 is, and with the advent of Windows 8 coming soon, using the same metro theme updated in real time on the desktop, the "cloud" only gets more important. Microsoft will use this to "add value" to its back-end services (demographics, telematics, services, feeds used, etc). That may put it in a perspective to explain my point a little more clearly.
Some might call it evil. Some might call it wrong. I call it neither. It is simply an evolution of a common marketing practice in use since the "frequent shopper" cards were introduced in supermarkets decades ago. Yes, they were tracking what was bought and how often. It's not a lens on your personal life so much as a lens to know what is selling and when so the stores can better position themselves with food company category managers. It also afforded them the opportunity to offer coupons to entice your continued patronage. As technology has advanced, it has enabled a lot more of the understanding of "behavior" to really appeal to that consumer out there.
So, overreact? Maybe the wrong word. Let's just say that while I understand yours and others' concerns, I do not believe there is cause for concern for most people out there.
Interesting times huh?