Why you ask? Judging from several of Google's recent projects, I'll gamble and say it's because:
a.) They're trying to expand into new markets that they're woefully unequipped to do.
b.) Their product owners and engineering teams possess a capability maturity level of middle schoolers
c.) They don't care
When you're a publicly traded company, the "Illusion of Value" prevails over customers in order to satiate Wall Street's demands every quarter. I'm not saying it is right but it certainly is a reality (and a painful one at that as I've experienced the same).
