Despite everything you crib about, Google (along with Apple) remains a shining ray of hope for web-based consumer products by really pushing the boundaries of User Interaction and usability.

Google Map Screenshot for Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

New Map for Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

Notice that each street you see has small numbers next to it - these are the block numbers/ house numbers. So much more usable to figure out where the approximate address is just by looking at the map.

Nice touch.