Google has as much data collected if not more. Every search you've ever typed, from where, and when. Every internet video you've watched and liked. When you're awake, when you're asleep, etc.
Indeed. I wasn't clever enough to avoid creating a Google account in the first place (although I'm pretty sure it was just a “Gmail” account back then).
I switched away from Gmail and Google Calendar a couple of weeks ago. I also disconnected my Google account from my phone. I haven't regularly used their web search in years.
I've used an email address at my own domain for years, precisely so I wasn't tied to Gmail, and therefore I haven't needed to spam my contacts or change a load of user accounts to a new email address.
It's almost a shame Google+ never took off, because then the non-tech media might be talking about Google in the same way as Facebook.
It's a lot of trust to place in one company, whose motives inevitably won't align with your own, and who realistically you can't hold to account.