One day I tried a Google search and noticed that everything "above the fold" on the first page was either a Google property, an advertisement, or both.
I stopped using Google for web search, but I still use it for Google search.
Part of me wonders if the ad market is just radically different on Google in the US or other parts of the world, or if I just make very non-commercial searches. I don't see many ads, unless I'm actively going to Google Shopping essentially in search of them.
I do see the Google info box style results, but I find these to be one of the most useful parts and it's one of the reasons I like using Google for things that are basic facts, media fact finding (like "who was that person in that show" style queries), etc.
