The data thing is interesting. I care about my privacy, but also am I getting a better experience or being better served by a provider because they've figured out my trends and habits?

You are not all crazy.

https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/wjbzzy/your-phone-is-listening-and-its-not-paranoia

The data thing is interesting. I care about my privacy, but also am I getting a better experience or being better served by a provider because they've figured out my trends and habits?

Not directly, but it is how their able to provide these services for "free". Facebook wouldn't be around if they had to start charging for their services. The analytics aspect is what brings marketing value.

I personally am a fan of sites that rely on advertising to personalize the ads that are displayed for me. Several times those adds have exposed me to products and services I otherwise would never know existed. I've 'saved' some of these ads for future reference and even ordered a product or two (or 20) that was specifically the result of targeting me and my habits online.

We talk about Google, Amazon and Facebook..... Please, I (or anyone else in the public) can spend 20 minutes at the Court Clerks office and get all the names, addresses, driver's licenses number and social security numbers I want. Everything you need to fill out bogus credit applications, etc.

Not directly, but it is how their able to provide these services for "free". Facebook wouldn't be around if they had to start charging for their services. The analytics aspect is what brings marketing value.

You are no longer the customer of the product, you are the product. No thank you very much.