Google owns android?
Initially developed by Android Inc., which Google bought in 2005, Android was unveiled in 2007, with the first commercial Android device launched in September 2008.
Yes. Google developed and owns Android.
Now would you rather an OS that is intended to gather everything about everyone while caring not a whit for the hardware maker, or an OS that wants you to trust it keeping you private & secure and so buy more from the same vendor?
Android OS is a product of Google, yes. Has been from the very beginning. Indeed, if most people who own/operate Android-based devices knew how much data that Google collects, even if you opt-out of every form of data sharing (some apps won’t work without) - you give Google permission to harvest nearly all of your personal info including call logs, address book, any and all documents opened on the device, etc. There is nothing you can do about it - it is part of the “deal” you make to use their OS.