I could be incorrect in my assumption here so please let me know:

I assume as a user of DDG that they aren't collecting data on me. However back when Google was following their motto and young, they WERE still collecting data, weren't they?

If that's true (IF) then that would make this an unfair comparison. If DDG eventually erodes their morals and stops caring about privacy then I could just stop using them and they would have no historic data on me.

That aside though, what is your alternative? Yes they may in the future collect data but they certainly don't right now, so why not use them now while they don't rather than giving in and just using Google and accepting the surveillance?