That's a new sidebar feature that goes where ads have traditionally gone. Google has decided to literally promote G+ over ads, which is a story in itself, but a totally different one.
It doesn't change the search results in the main column.
It doesn't change the search results in the main column.
They seem rather related parts of the same story.
You make a big deal about not "ascribing evil motives to Google" but I think it's pretty clear that Google is going all in on G+ and both aspects of Search+ that Danny Sullivan has taken issue with are directly related to this.
I don't care for the word "evil" because I think Google may be perfectly within their rights to do this but it's also very unlike how Google has historically operated. Inasmuch as that historical behavior personified "don't be evil", well it's hard to be shocked when people call this new, tough negotiating Google "evil".