Because I was alive back then:

This was the venture funding "we're a startup era". And Google succeeded eventually.

But in that era making money didn't matter. It was just about grabbing market space. And oh boy did they succeed.

But all bills become due eventually. Stock holders start demanding continuing increasing profit and that eventually leads to the downfall of any good product.

> Stock holders start demanding continuing increasing profit and that eventually leads to the downfall of any good product.

Don't blame ordinary shareholders here! The original founders still hold a majority of decision making power (I think via super voting shares).