Google really does not have social computing in their corporate DNA

No, they really don't. They proved it with Buzz, and their inability to make Wave work, and all the problems with Google+. In part because of the article I linked above, I think Google forgets to think about the users of its tools as individuals rather than just sources of content and beta testing.

They makes much of their money by selling advertising and, in that sense, we are the product, not the user.

That, too. The cartoon in this post remains appropriate.