Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS

I am very curious how carriers will respond to Google deciding to preempt them by pushing an app update to redirect all text messaging straight to Google servers versus the carriers. Google seemed like it was respecting the carriers' involvement, right up until carriers announced plans to build their own RCS system that didn't give Google the data. Suddenly, Google is turning on RCS?

Presumably Google was hoping it could convince carriers to pay Google to host their messaging platforms, and when Google lost that gamble, they decided they still wanted the data either way.

This is the sort of coup I half-wonder if carriers would drop the Android platform over. (At the very least, I think four more large companies will be vocally supporting the DOJ's antitrust investigation.)

Can anyone confirm the biggest issue (in my opinion) with RCS? It's not end-to-end encrypted.

Update: Confirmed it myself [1]. End-to-end encryption is not even an option. Which is perfect for the data addicts like Google. But honestly I would never ever recommend this as an avenue for people to use over something like WhatsApp.

[1]: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20964477/googles-rcs-cha...

Indeed, this seems to be needlessly kicking life back into SMS when it was already being replaced by better systems that respect privacy.

Of course the decentralized nature of SMS is a good benefit but given how most telecoms are oligopolies disinterested in customers concerns about privacy (and plenty of other things like customer service) it pretty much defeats the value in it.

I've only got a cursory understanding of RCS, but in what way is this good for consumers? I can understand how it's good for Google, but aside from Google it's unclear how anyone benefits.

Can't wait for no one to use it ever