[mikegioia]

If you didn't enable 2FA, how on earth is Google or anyone for that matter able to verify it's you that owns the email address? Anyone at any time could claim they were hacked, and it's not like they require a drivers license ID when you register.

Honestly I'm not sure what Google can do here that (a) doesn't require them to now individually support users ($$$) or (b) doesn't open them up to thousands of erroneous claims.

[danielweber]

I would prefer a system where I can pay $100 to Google to get a competent human to look at the case versus now where I can hope I have a friend of a friend to make enough noise to get someone's attention.

[mikegioia]

I think we all would, but the OP knew this when he registered! This is not a new revelation about Google support.