[nickpsecurity]

"but I wouldn't expect any free service that involves a paid employee from any service I don't pay for (with money, not privacy)."

It's not a free service. It's a surveillance company that spies on, profiles, and sells out its users for a profit in exchange for the services it offers. Most surveillance companies with email offerings have support. If Google doesn't, then it's taking something in exchange for nothing on top of doing less than the standard most of its competitors set in this area. It will also probably keep making revenue on the locked account for a little while despite its owner having no access.

Way different ethically or professionally than a situation where the user was getting free email with the other party getting absolutely nothing in return. Something truly free.