Re-reading this comment, I think you misunderstood. I'm saying you can use Chrome's search engine shortcut feature to search on other search engines, without using Google Search at all.
Just like I can type "!a search terms" to search Amazon using DDG, I can configure Chrome to send my search directly to Amazon if I type "a search terms".
Google can do all of the things you mentioned regardless of which browser you use if you use Google/Gmail/etc Search or visit sites that use Google Ads/Analytics (without disabling cookies or using Ghostery)
Ah! I get you - agreed. I think that's a decent solution, it just seems like configuring Chrome to use DDG as the default engine buys you a lot of those configurations in one change. Either way, good results.
Just like I can type "!a search terms" to search Amazon using DDG, I can configure Chrome to send my search directly to Amazon if I type "a search terms".
Google can do all of the things you mentioned regardless of which browser you use if you use Google/Gmail/etc Search or visit sites that use Google Ads/Analytics (without disabling cookies or using Ghostery)