I agree. One of the biggest things people don't understand is that most users simply don't understand what they're doing, and Google does not understand how to design software safe for them. Annoying processes seem pointless but often they have a very clear point: Making sure intent is solid.
Apple recently implemented some web APIs in a strategy that shows they actually understand designing for people: The APIs only work if you "install" the website. It makes it possible to access useful PWA features... but it doesn't allow any arbitrary website to do so, there's an extra process normal humans understand to enable it.
An installed PWA is also persistently visible: It's on the homescreen. So it's a visible reminder of that permission grant and a clear sign of something a user wants to have some sense of access to them.
> Google does not understand how to design software safe for them
The only way to design software safe for Idiots is to design software where it is not possible to make a mistake, not possible to have an accident, and not possible to compromise anything even on purpose.
Unfortunately, non-Idiots don't tend to appreciate that kind of babyfied experience, so we tend to end up with some compromise where the things that Idiots will inevitably mess up should ideally be the least consequential possible things that can also provide some sort of value to non-Idiots.
As a result some of the more advanced experiences that are entirely inappropriate to grant Idiots are simply not available, because if they were, then Idiots would find a way to cause really bad accidents.
Apple recently implemented some web APIs in a strategy that shows they actually understand designing for people: The APIs only work if you "install" the website. It makes it possible to access useful PWA features... but it doesn't allow any arbitrary website to do so, there's an extra process normal humans understand to enable it.
An installed PWA is also persistently visible: It's on the homescreen. So it's a visible reminder of that permission grant and a clear sign of something a user wants to have some sense of access to them.