[zelcon]

Google Search API, Autocomplete, Finance, Voice all closed with tons of active users. I'm not blaming Google; they were acting in their best interest, but the consequence is less enthusiasm for building software that depends on their APIs.

IMO a better option for Google, when considering to close an API, is to enforce payment and hike the price enough to justify maintaining it. If and only if enough users drop out with the higher price, then shut it down for good.