[ambirex]

The real missed opportunity for Google was expanding reader's social/collaboration features into a more robust social network.It would have saved them from trying to ham fist Google+ for everyone. It could have been a home for Wave and Buzz type of tech. Instead they threw out the baby, be damn the bathwater.

That being said, I have a found NewsBlur a great replacement.

[EarthLaunch]

I was aghast when they killed Reader in order to promote G+. It was obviously the kind of "strategic business" decision that I would only expect from a failing organization, which changed my view of Google.

The organic, 'bootstrapped' way forward for Google would have been to carefully expand the social features of Reader, which had a large loyal following. Instead they forced it to stagnate then sacrificed it upon their stupid G+ altar trying to copy Facebook years late. SO lame.