"Search" is not a vertical market. It's something ALL of Google's customers use (or would use, in your hypothetical). I guess I do agree with Des on that main point. Plugging a gap in someone else's software may not be a great long term strategy.
But is your point that this is commendable behavior from Apple? Or that developers should just shut up and put up with it regardless?
What gets me is that software developers aren't a little more discerning when it comes to fawning uncontrollably over all the good stuff Apple does and just explaining away (is that what you're doing here?) or blinkering out the bad.
Why can't this same energy and enthusiasm be directed towards keeping the hardware and software we all depend on for our livelihoods as open and accessible as possible?
We are the early adopters and the evangelists. We're the ones our friends and family turn to when they need suggestions on a new computer or MP3 player. Why perpetuate Apple's "our ball, our game, our rules" environment any more than absolutely necessary?