As he said, degrees matter. By which I guess he means differences of degree.
The two companies involved (Google, Apple) have a fundamental difference in their business model. One involves you and your private data as the product; the other does not.
If what you care about is privacy, I really don't think iOS is appreciably better than Android. (Not marginally or theoretically - I mean practically).
If you're looking to be as private as possible[0], you should either use a custom ROM of Android with Privacy Guard and with Google services disabled (or use something like Replicant or FirefoxOS, if you're comfortable straying from the two dominant mobile OSes).
[0] As private as possible while still carrying around a tracking device 24/7, mind you (cell phones constantly report your location to your carriers, who are not at all modest with this data)
Yes. Google+, by default, likes to grab all pictures taken with the device camera (and most stupidly will then say they're ready to be shared - because every photo is for sharing . . . )
The worst is Google Play Services though. It's basically a way for Google to get your location data, and to generate massive global maps of WiFi networks, rather like what got them in trouble with the streetmap cars. Anyone doubting how important this is to them needs to check their reaction when Motorola wanted to use Skyhook on a device instead:
http://www.theverge.com/2011/05/12/google-android-skyhook-la...
You mean the box is ticked in a terms and conditions screen when you first turn the device on and that counts as opting in. It's on by default. Most people don't realise what it's doing until either the uploader drinks all their battery (which mercifully they seem to have fixed) or they have loads of photos pop up when they sign in to Gmail on a desktop.
The sign in process for Android devices has become ever more convoluted and incomprehensible. People, understandably, complain about the Facebook app, but Google are actually far worse.
The two companies involved (Google, Apple) have a fundamental difference in their business model. One involves you and your private data as the product; the other does not.