I know what they do and why but the argument used to squeeze cash from them is cr@p.
You’re right, it’s pure extortion.
I’m just not wasting any time feeling sorry for Google, because extortion is at the center of their very successful business model.
I also hate Angie’s List, Philadelphia Magazine, etc.. I suppose there are hundreds that run that same old racket: posing as a quality rating service that protects consumers from quacks by assessing and rating small businesses, when really the “quality ratings” are earned by paying them off.
Google is the king of them all - it’s kind of poetic justice for them to be the victim of extortion.