Ubuntu switches search back to Google

In fact I use Ubuntu on a lot of my systems (since about 2007, replacing Debian as a more up-to-date and polished derivative). But I use it mostly in old-style Debian way, upgrading to the next release by aptitude or update-manager, never reinstalling from LiveCD. Also, on desktop I use Kubuntu with some unnecessary packages pruned off, so I feel myself pretty well isolated from mianline Ubuntu gimmicks that are foisted on unsuspecting novice users with every release. In fact, when you upgrade Ubuntu 9.10 to 10.04 in usual way, I am sure you would not even notice that your GNOME theme or browser search provider is changed.