Yes, I'm aware of that, but that's search on iOS, nothing to do with Google Maps, which I'd say is a much much much smaller problem on iOS compared to Android, and getting more and more irrelevant as Apple Maps gets better. There's is a very large number of Android phones though, many of which at least historically have been advertised to include these Google services. Hence the "in a way" – whether or not there is money flowing into Google Maps directly or indirectly from that purchase, buyers of such phones pay for a device with that service. If that service isn't there, I can return it in most jurisdictions. I'm sure a large part of such users would have the expectation of not being producticized by that service on a phone they paid for, and I doubt anyone cares how exactly Google shuffles money around to make that happen.
Almost no services are guaranteed on the phone you buy. They can and do change. And if a service does remain free - then you are the product.
In some ways, it sounds like you didn't pay enough, if the cost is subsidised by data collection and advertising.
Regardless of how much you pay, what is their incentive as a large organization not to get more money out of you, if they know they can get away with it?
Apple just charges a lot more upfront for their products.