The problem is that, even with a logged in Pinterest account, clicking on a Google image search result doesn't take you to the image. Sometimes the image will be on the page, but not always. Sometimes have to perform another search on Pinterest to find the item.
Here's an example where the image is below the fold. There are plenty where the image can't be found without a search on Pinterest.
I quite like the idea of Pinterest but the hyper-aggressive signup stuff (especially for mobile users) is really off-putting.
I was under the impression that the current X-Articles-Free implementation of newspaper paywalls everywhere was a Google-friendly compromise.
Sounds like they are to me.
It's not explicitly stated either way, but when people talk about "image results" it seems safe to assume they are taking about Google Image Search.
With Pinterest results this sometimes happens: https://imgur.com/a/ktyNG
But not always: https://imgur.com/a/RrjJG
Notice how in the second link Pinterest is asking me to log in, even though I am clearly already logged in.