This is so disappointing. I never had an issue with Google Domains. It offered free WHOIS protection, easy to buy a domain and set it up. Nothing fancy. No BS fees. Shame
I've been happy with service from Hover.com. It's from "old internet infrastructure company" Tucows and seems incentivized to deliver a good service because it is an infrastructure tool from an infrastructure company.
The "free WHOIS protection" is something they have to offer, if they[or anyone else] wants to do business in Europe and be GDPR compliant.
I like porkbun.com for the same experience.
Most registrars offer free privacy settings now, even Epik. Maybe Godaddy doesn’t.
They offer that now, but back in 2014 when Google Domains launched many registrars offered it with an additional fee (like $1 per mo or some other ridiculous pittance). I admit I don't know the GDPR ramifications of such a thing now.