The original commenter said: "Search has been coopted, making the prime thing (past general connectivity) that made the internet so useful now all but worthless."

I agree that Google search has been coopted. It now requires a keener awareness of what is and isn't being artificially promoted. Is it annoying? Yes. Is it something that unsophisticated users fall prey to (by design)? Also sadly yes. But 'all but worthless'? That's a huge overstatement.