>VPN'ing around your ISP is about the same level of difficulty as setting your default search engine to not be google.

Not even close.

VPN involves:

* Knowledge of the purpose of a VPN

* Knowledge of a specific VPN

* Money to pay for VPN

* Maintenance in the form of turning it on/off depending on application

* A method of digitally paying your bill, i.e. a credit card.

In contrast, if you know nothing about computers but open IE/Edge for the first time you'll be prompted to select your search engine.