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Even worse were always-present scrollbars even when having nothing to scroll) as misguided attempts to solve problem 1.

What's misguided about that? It's consistent and easy to understand.

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The default behavior of most apps is to not show scrollbars unless there's scrollable content. So it would be inconsistent to have a web browser behave differently.

The scrollbars are ALWAS there. Even when not needed. Taking up valuable screen real estate. Just for the eventuality that they will be necessary. In the future.

Maybe not misguided, but not an ideal solution either. Google's seems better.

one possible solution is the one Mozilla Bespin went with where there's a hovering translucent scroll bar which varies in opacity depending on whether you're hovered over it.

MADNESS!!!! A context sensitive UI element that only appears when you want it to and doesn't clutter up the visual space when you don't need it? INSANITY!!!

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