[jedvty]

> Does this new Google device come with the Google Fi feature which backhauls all your traffic to Google via a VPN?

Not applicable.

The purpose of Google Connectivity Services is to provide protected access (encrypted via VPN) to the Internet on an unsecured 802.11 network like one that you'd encounter at a coffee shop.

In that case, GCS sets up a tunnel from your phone to Google's edge network, traffic from your phone egresses via an IP address dedicated to GCS and then you're surfing the Interwebs.

If you've entered a SSID and a related PSK or WEP password (as one typically does on a home network), GCS isn't available to use.

Use of GCS is optional. It can be disabled as desired.