I switched from Google photos to immich so I could keep my photos more private (self hosted on my own NAS). I still keep Google photos installed on my phone so I can edit photos (the editor is really nice to use). Every time I open it, it bugs me to resume backing up to Google. This week I found that it had started backing up to Google again although I don't remember accepting so I had to go and clear out all the uploaded photos again.
I hate this. Even when I decline to back up it usually then nags me with a second screen asking if I want to do a one time backup. Like, no. I don't want to send any of my photos to Google.
Supposedly their motive is altruistic in nature for not allowing this "reminder" to be disabled is that some users may forget to backup and not wanting the user to get upset with losing something.
We're paying but it doesn't feel like we're customers. It feels like we're paying protection money otherwise we get ads shoveled down our throats again.
Music streaming services are all the same to me. Picked up Google play music many years ago. When they switched to YT music, getting ad free YT videos was just a bonus. Also, they didn't raise the price for 8 years. For the family plan, it's a pretty good deal.
You we're getting as free YT videos? I'm just paying to be harassed for now because I don't have time to shop around for a replacement. Killing podcasts was the last straw.
GPM became YT Red (later YT premium) which is just a music streaming service and ad free YT vids. I never used it for podcasts anyway. PocketCast for Android for that purpose.
I went to Google IO the year they announced Google Music (2013?) and they offered a special discount for those in attendance. I gotta hand it to them, even through all those transitions (Red, YouTube Premium) they have grandfathered me into the new services with the similar discounted price. If they ever took the discount away, I still kinda feel like the family plan is a bit justified given how much my wife and I consume YouTube content.