Sure, they can replicate much better and then shut it down later on.
People would be constantly popping up on HN repeating a different mantra about how bloated and unfocused they were (although arguably Google manages to be bloated and unfocused despite the shutdowns - but that's another debates)
Most of the Google shutdown's were understandable whether you like them or not.
In any case - it's getting tedious to hear the same comment on every Google related post. They shut things down. We get it.
> People would be constantly popping
> up on HN repeating a different mantra
> about how bloated and unfocused they
> were
I'd say Google is a lot more liberal in starting new projects than any other company of its size. Look around in the news and you'll see how analysts comment about how Google has no 'direction' and is burning money.
Even if they decide to shut it down soon, the value companies and scientists get out of it will be worth it.
Haha. Good luck with that. Google doesn't give its geodata away.
Maybe also worth pointing out that Google's record in geo isn't without its failures.