>>One of the things that makes me sad about this is that Sergei and Larry seem so checked out.

I think this one sentence describes everything, companies are all about the people at the top. Its these people that set the culture, pace and overall direction of the company.

If the founders tune out and outsource the very soul of the company to general managers, who can keep lights on rather too well. Well thats what you get. The lights will be on, it will be life as usual and gradual erosion of that very soul that was the company.

You can't blame Larry and Sergei either. There are better things to enjoy when you have billions in the bank and one life to spend it.