Couple things -

I haven't said shit about "winning." At this point both sides are wargaming what settlement terms they'd take and it becomes a negotiation. For the record I think the Justice Dept's move is empty posturing, something Billy Barr is doing so his master will shut up about indicting Hunter Biden or some shit. But I also think Google and Facebook are legitimately frightened by the consequences of a protracted anti-trust battle (I think Amazon lacks the foresight to be frightened, which is to their detriment, because actual consumer harm is hella easier to demonstrate on Amazon).

And I don't deserve to be accused of having a "chip on my shoulder." Only reason we're having this discussion is you accused me of fantasizing about vehicular manslaughter. You've been baiting me for two days and all I've done is call you on it. I'm not sure how the guy who says "stop that" is the contentious one, other than observing that once you've taken things ad hominem it's tough to stop.

Maybe you didn't mean it when you said it, but you started this discussion with

This one in particular is such an easy win for Google. Absolute worst-case scenario, you end up with future smartphones that work like PCs sold in Europe--you turn it on, and when you create your user account it asks which search provider you want to use, and which browser you want to install. Woooooooo scary...I can't help but see this in the same light as some dickhole governor intentionally passing an abortion law that can't stand up in court.

That last bit? I happen to agree with. Said as much. If you read between the lines we're probably 90% in agreement; the issue at hand is how much tooth the feds and states can bite with and how badly the tech firms don't want to get bitten and that's fundamentally unknowable since it's a negotiation with a lot of parties involved.

But we're having a real hard time having that discussion because you can't seem to make a point without couching it in some form of I know better than you and/or your opinions don't deserve respect.

Heart-to-heart from one smart guy to another? It's real easy being the only smart guy. Ya get lazy tho. And you forget how to talk to people who might actually know more than you. Which is a real problem because they're the ones you can learn from the most. And I'm well aware I'm the bad guy here because I'm always the bad guy because every site needs a villain and the one who stands up instead of slinking off is gonna be a target but listen: I don't pipe up on everything, I pipe up on stuff I think I know something about. The nice thing about Hubski is you can usually assume that opinions and viewpoints come from a remedial place of knowledge at worst. And even if you think I'm the biggest fucking moron on earth, treating me like one is poor rhetorical strategy.

To review: you don't think they can win to the point where you'll happily state that anyone who disagrees has no clue what they're talking about. I don't think winning is the point and dispute that the argument is cut'n'dried. This is contentious because you have demonstrated little respect for dissent, even when politely (and impolitely) asked. Kindly consider that the next time we have something to talk about.