Generally I use ddg.gg for "I want <specific thing>" and google for "I want a brute force grep of the internet".

My usage split is about "best tool for the job" rather than privacy though, since I don't really mind google knowing what error messages I'm pasting from a console.

It's really about preference. A lot of people still use emacs even though it takes more effort than other options.

You'd be hard-pressed to find an emacs user who agreed that it took more effort than other options. Which is a good illustration of why we have more than one editor: different people have different affinities to various editors and IDEs.

In theory that sort of thing ought to be true for search, too. For example, blekko (new UI as of 3 weeks ago) focuses on clustering results. Here's what it does for pride: https://blekko.com/#?q=pride That gives you the answer you wanted, without personalization, and gives other people the answer they wanted, too.

It's purely anecdotal -- and occasional -- but I've felt less and less ability to (easily) control my search results in Google by (simply) adjusting my search term.

I add some keywords (would that I could still use + for its original purpose), but the top results continue to be filled with worthless, often spammy crap. Pages and pages of crap.

Your comment is encouragement to give DDG another go, and to take time to familiarize myself with its !