[exodust]

I want to see Google slapped for being naughty, but this case is weak.

Defaults are defaults. What matters to users is choice. The choice is there to use a different search engine. Google widgets can be removed from phones.

Much worse is when Big Tech removes choice. Recent example: Microsoft mandating their Authenticator App as MFA, removing other options like SMS. If my workplace doesn't pay for my phone, and I don't want to install Microsoft crap on my phone, I'm in a bizarre predicament where I could be locked out of work because I refuse to install Microsoft apps on my personal device. This is wrong, much worse than "Google paid someone to be the default".

[colmvp]

I disagree. Browsers like Chrome and Firefox have the ability to install different engines, yet I'd be shocked if Google wasn't at least 90% of the current default search engine on both browers. Most users might be technical enough to change their default, but unless Bing/DDG/et al are demonstrably better in their results, users won't switch.