@himmelskumpel: Hey, first of all, thank you very much for your feedback - this is really valuable to us in understanding our users’ viewpoints. We do try to shed some light on these topics because we know that information can get distorted or misunderstood, so we agree that transparency is the best approach. Case in point, you say that we still "collect a great amount of data", and that's actually a misconception. In fact, as explained in the article, we only collect certain data and only with users' consent - certainly less than many default option browsers, and none of it can be used to identify specific people in any practical way. We will continue breaking this information down in this blog and our website, which will hopefully help clear up any misgivings you have!
To your point about Opera features - yes, Opera sports a wide range of features, and not all of them will be useful to everyone all the time. But keep in mind we have a very large and diverse user base across a multitude of markets, each with its own culture, preferences, and needs. A feature that's superfluous to one user might be extremely useful to another. We also don't come as default with a device, which means we have to convince people to give us a try. Therefore, we always try to innovate and offer features that bring unique benefits to users who choose us.
Most importantly, we believe in user choice. One user might want to make full use of our features, or feel strongly about supporting our monetization efforts. Another user might want to have as private an experience as possible. We want to be able to accommodate both. In a world where large players dominate and dictate users’ experiences, giving users options means giving them leverage over the experience they want to have online. We try to put the power in users’ hands by giving them the tools to set their own terms when they use their preferred software.
Once again, thank you for your comment and for the trust you do put in us!
