I disagree with "pretentious," but you are correct that not everyone sees Google data collection as potential trouble.
I do see it as potential trouble, not because they're Google but because they're in the data collection and correlation business and they're the elephant in the room. Many other people feel the same, although probably not the majority of people. For me and people like me, data minimization features are welcome.
Employers and government are inappropriately nosing into social network data. Insurance companies are denying medical coverage solely on the basis of statements made online, i.e. without benefit of actual medical examination; that's the equivalent of "I heard ...," and it's being used in life/death relevant cases, merely to find a way to deny cost and coverage, regardless of medical issues.
My approach to online data is:
- Data transferred to anyone, online or off, is potentially misued and should be minimized. If I don't need you to have it, I see no reason to give it to you, and so I'll make it hard for you to get.
- Online data is easier to misuse, on purpose or by mistake.
- The more of your data that's online, the harder it is to keep track of.
- The more of your data that's online, the easier it is to correlate with itself and other data. You're already part of a huge gmail correlation network, even if you don't use gmail. Connecting that to your search makes it much more valuable to google, and unfortunately much more potentially dangerous to you.
- Data correlation can create new data which can itself be misused.
- The privacy policy of today is null and void once a company is acquired, goes bankrupt or just decides to change the policy. Be sure to watch that privacy policy page! Every day!
There are many ways to think about your data online. Some of us are cautious about it. For people like that, any easy way to reduce your footprint is welcome. Duck Duck Go, besides being a welcome footprint shrinker, is overall just awesomely well done.