i hate how they worked ads into directions. i know some people find it easy to hear "turn left at the mcdonald's" but i've been fine at estimating distance and don't need to hear the name of a chain.
But yeah that's an annoying experience if you use voice directions, and in some instances I could see it as really degrading the directions app, since "taking a left at the intersection" may be more clear than "turn left at the kfc"
Google Maps is still much better for searching, but the gap seems to be closing.