$1B for users! (Score 1)

The parent AC's #3 is exactly right. Google doesn't want the dying dialup ISP, they want the millions of users. The want the graying-America who are comfortable with their AOL-Internet and are retiring richer than any generation in history. Millions of (primarily) older generation, with lots of expendable income, who are only really comfortable using the Internet through AOL. Forward thinking businesses (which I hope/think is Google) understand the monetary value of a customer-base. Read "The Customer Revolution" by Patricia Seybold.