I use at least 9 devices (four laptops, a desktop, watch, two phones, tablet) with Maps on them and very much appreciate having the location data synced serverside.

You can sync data in a privacy preserving way. For example, chrome sync passwords but google doesn’t have access to them. Apple syncs health data and have access.

Etc etc.

Sync is not a reason to have server side access to location data.

why do you have 4 laptops?

It's very easy for me to imagine having two work devices and two personal devices.

Imagine GP is a contractor and a gamer:

1. Work laptop for contracting firm

2. Work laptop for client firm

3. Personal laptop for general computing

4. Linux machine for development of side projects, tinkering, etc. OR a gaming laptop

Good guess but it’s slightly different:

- 1 work laptop at office

- 1 work laptop at home

- 1 work laptop in second home

- 1 work desktop in second home

- 1 personal/shared laptop (mostly primary home)

- 1 personal/shared desktop (primary home)

I regularly travel between the office and the two homes (all are transit / bike accessible from each other).

I don’t like carrying laptops between places and don’t work while commuting.

Sure! it was just an honest question from a new engineer on the market :) I only have 2 myself

No it's not, for majority of people cloud backups are definitely a bonus

Post cloud boom, the expectation is cloud syncing, not the exception.

Fair.. "you are the product" strikes again