I fully agree on the social buttons but Google Analytics is so much more than just a statcounter. Goal tracking and segmentation are invaluable tools that I believe no other tool provides.
And before you complain that 'spying on your users isn't needed to make money', try working at a large corporation. Things just don't work the way you (ideally) want to. You can only say "no" so many times before someone else steps in and does it for you.
If spying on your users is needed for a company to make money... maybe that company should shut down as obviously their producs/services are not needed on socienty anymore?
I mean, something else really wrong must have happened in core business for this to be an actual issue.
I did not imply that large corporations solely exist because of using Google Analytics to gain insight into the value of their marketing efforts.
My point is this. If your company spends a couple million on online marketing / year, your boss will want to know if you're spending it wisely. And if it's your job to spend it wisely, effectively and report the results, good luck doing so without using tools like Google Analytics.
But regarding your opinion: I happen to know a couple of SMB's that do rely on online marketing to sell things they would not sell otherwise. They are good businesses with great customer service and experts in their field, but without the reach of online marketing they would indeed cease to exist, as their local market is just too small and their margins are under pressure from large retailers like Amazon.
Their margins don't allow for ineffective marketing campaigns and without insight they would fly blind. Are you saying they should just give up and leave the market to behemoths like Amazon? That's just stupid.
I apreciate the fact that you clarified your point of view, I clearly misunderstood.
A few things I would disagree regarding SMB's behaviour you describe (and I know myself a few of those too).
I believe they shouldn't try to play the same championship as Amazon alike behemoths. As you correctly said, they are usually short on margins and consequently marketing budget. Investing and trusting in marketing, event though not blindly, may not be the best move as they probably will never be able to compete with behemoths price/services. Which means you're already targeting a different market anyway. Great customer service and being experts in their field is where they should probably bet first in order to differenciate: Big corps don't have this. And they don't event care. This will most likely contribute to sustainable growth.
This said, I think it's pretty clear now what I think about behemoths ;) (I liked the term)
Is GA 'spying on users'? If so.. you should never go anywhere in public, never go shopping at a grocery store, etc. They all record everything that happens and analyze it to get similar amounts of data. Your bank tracks you way more (and sells all your data!).
And before you complain that 'spying on your users isn't needed to make money', try working at a large corporation. Things just don't work the way you (ideally) want to. You can only say "no" so many times before someone else steps in and does it for you.