Google since Page and Brin bailed has become a highly political organization interested only in short term revenue growth, and is no longer an engineering organization focused on product excellence. Anyone that has used their messaging products over the years has noticed this.
This type of business attracts a different class of talent and nearly all of the old guard has cashed in their stock and left.
The really interesting question is whether this is actually avoidable or if all highly successful human organizations that started with high bar ideals and brilliant folks are eventually doomed to rot in place the way Google has.
This type of business attracts a different class of talent and nearly all of the old guard has cashed in their stock and left.