Here is the crux of my argument, I received the update via OTA, she flashed a ROM and installed GApps, one method is intended and supported for consumers, the other is "at your own risk" sort of thing.
No it didn't, it might have been created when you joined something that required it and there was a check mark somewhere, it gets populated by stuff that you added when you started Google account like date of birth etc, but you get presented with that as well.