[scifi6546]

I would argue trust is a big part of it. My counter example: Apple. Apple is a massive company that could collect massive sums of valuable data. Althoguh they do act like a monopoly in many respects (cough cough T2) they do not abuse data that they could collect. I think the reason for that is they want some level of trust from consumers. They do abuse their position of power but they do not do very much 'creepy' things like google, MS, Amazon, or Facebook

[exergy]

I sort of get what you're saying. A lot of formerly-anti-Apple people have started looking at them with new eyes because of their welcome stance on privacy.

But even with the Apple example, aren't they the most valuable company on Earth? Despite having anti-consumer policies like removing the 3.5mm jack or making their laptops nigh-on irrepairable. Clearly the market shrugs at those 'tradeoffs' in exchange for Apple shifting more product more quickly. This is what I mean by the market not being the perfect device to self-regulate. Perhaps on a VERY long term scale, but not on human time scales.