I agree completely.  After hearing Google CEO on NPR I sent a real-live paper letter urging Google to get back to search engine basics--I include the URL to a list to 40 pages of irrelevant hits caused by Google removing the date field from the advanced search option (I do research that requires 19th century photographs).  Why, I asked him, do I get a hundred photos of Madonna when I'm searching for photos of George Armstrong Custer?  I also pointed out that Google makes it very difficult to use Boolean operations--basically, using search engine technology that was available in most junior high school libraries around 1990.  Googles response?  Hmmm, if using the ADVANCED SEARCH is cumbersome, don't update it; eliminate it.