the thing is, even if you don't buy google, any provider is one acquisition away from becoming google and striking you where it hurts

the only way for providers and customers to protect themselves is to buy products that don't remain under the provider's control after the sale. that encompasses not depending on third-party servers, not calling mothership for instructions. ideally, software that you can maintain yourself, or get help from others maintaining. that's also what it takes to avoid software enshittification