Yeah, I'd expand on the "API over DBs" based on my experience. I could make it nest much deeper: DBs over Excel spreadsheets, and Excel spreadsheets over PDFs or scraped HTMLs, yada, yada, yada.
But before I waste any time creating an API, my client wants to know if the project is even viable.
Google's Search is dying because of Thousands of self-inflicted cuts.
A couple of years ago there were about 3 or clearly marked ads on the first page, followed by generally useful results.
Right now, I don't have the patience to scroll past the ads which are almost indistinguishable from useful links.