Do you lose with the web?
It's just that all that other stuff came too. In addition to that web you love. Not pushing it away, but shadowing it in volume. Yet, there is no space shortage. The web is an infinite library.
Not one that has to remove those seventies sci-fi books to make place for the new Harry Potter section. But one that can keep both.
Well, there was altavista (and, ahh, the memories Astalavista.box.sk) and some other ad-loaded websites.
As long as Google says so. And they haven't been open to new old-school sites, just to old ones.
Despite all the negative externalities that it also causes, I fail to see how they could outdo its positive aspects.
This is totally true. Unfortunately, it's also the biggest repository of misinformation in history as well.
> I fail to see how they could outdo its positive aspects
On a macro scale, you're likely correct. If you're one of the unlucky people that suffers a significant negative consequence, your view may differ.
That could be said for anything, though. There isn't a thing on this planet that hasn't hurt anyone during its creation.