Besides what the sibling comment said, of course Mozilla can't be independent. Nobody was ever under that illusion. Making a browser takes a shitload of money and Google is a good source of it. Even if that money came with strings attached (it doesn't), that would still be better than the alternative: having only one browser engine.
Being financially independent is great, but only if you survive. I'd take a partially Google-funded independent project that publicly goes against Google's interests all the time over one that Google develops in-house to 100% serve their agenda anytime.
Being financially independent is great, but only if you survive. I'd take a partially Google-funded independent project that publicly goes against Google's interests all the time over one that Google develops in-house to 100% serve their agenda anytime.