This "feature not a product" belief only makes sense if you pretend that the product doesn't provide the answer sought by its primary user and as byproduct produces a truly real-time stream/map of what music-enjoying people are interested in finding out more about.
This data would be incredibly valuable to companies trying to market and sell music. Like labels, and now, Apple. Not to mention keeping that data now out of the hands of others.
This is valuable also where there are places of clear mis-fit in the system such as when I received spoiled food through Amazon. The bag was torn open and product spoiled, coating everything, and I was requested to mail it back before I could receive a refund.
There was no alternative course, it felt maddening, especially considering I had submitted photos and knew there was no chance for their resale.
The market for false likes/views/followers/etc becomes an increasingly difficult place to sustain (especially financially) as detection of typically fraudulent use grows constantly easier with machine learning.
The criticism over Facebook's opt-out trend in new features is definitely warranted, but Forbes' editors continue to go for reader-baiting titles.
This story "Zuckerberg quits NAMBLA," and "Facebook Billionaire Explains Why He Backs Prop 19" from yesterday are great examples of perfectly fine stories made needlessly sensational in order to get attention. I'm guessing most people wouldn't think of any name _but_ Zuckerberg's when asked to name a Facebook billionaire.
This data would be incredibly valuable to companies trying to market and sell music. Like labels, and now, Apple. Not to mention keeping that data now out of the hands of others.