[Beldin]

No.

The standard web analytics tools of the late 90s basically parsed the http log. Even those will give you info equivalent to "looking through cameras".

You might want GA, you might even need it, but you're absolutely not blind without it unless you choose to be so.

[vinceguidry]

Good luck training your fresh-out-of-college marketing team on your homespun http log analytics tool. Even if you succeed, your CFO will convince your CEO to move to GA eventually. Ask me how I know.