Yep. The only reason it caught on was because it was made available through a tool everyone uses already.. kind of like how Internet Explorer is used..

Stream based social networking is a mainstay web application. If it can be done better than Twitter and Facebook, it makes sense for Google to do it. Gmail provides a ready-made userbase, and unlike Jaiku from years ago, can be built from the ground up by Google.

Why doesn't Google adopt OpenMicroBlogging for Buzz? At the same time, I like the idea of posting long posts into my stream. Buzz should look at bloggers as well as micro-bloggers as potential users. The opportunity to create a news gathering network exists.

I don't use it because it is Gmail. I don't want more distractions.

Not sure if the article got updated, but it says: "Horowitz stressed that Google would still offer a version of Buzz within Gmail, in addition to any independent version".

Agreed, it won't really work outside of Gmail. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. It really needs clear privacy settings, clear demarcation of email contacts and social contacts (with the option for contacts to be in both).

Strike three if you count OpenSocial. I have no idea if you should though.

I think this would be about strike six.