To be fair, there aren't "banner ads" on either the Google homepage or the search results pages. Neither are there "crazy, flashy, graphical doodads flying and popping up". There are definitely ads on the search results pages, and they take too much vertical space IMO, but they're text and small images, not flashing and tacky stuff.

completely depends on your definition of "crazy". I mean Google used to show ads for a particular drug if you searched for suicide methods that would call for such drug.... that's pretty crazy in my book.

also most of the deal was about video ads. just take a look at YouTube.

well yes, the genius is that the ads on the google page are virtually indistinguishable from actual results. is that better or worse?

Never say never.

Or alternately, go ahead and say it, nobody really cares.

Well, compared to the rest of the internet today (including mashable that you provide a link to), they are wayyyyyy less flashy and graphical. I wish the rest of the internet was a clean as google's homepage.

I feel like they did do some of that, although the spirit of what they're saying remains true to some extent.