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It definitely is. You can't even set a "home" or "work" location without enabling continuous tracking.

Yes, you can. I have location history disabled but I can route to home or work in Google Maps. Unless I am missing something.

Disc: Googler.

That link is 2.5 years old. Not sure when it changed but it's not the case right now AFAIK.

No. I still can't use Home or Work. Maybe @google.com accounts have an exemption.

Does this work?:

Enable it, then set home and work. Then disable it.

It's on my @gmail.com account.