"When searching online I find it vaguely insulting that my presumed default state is one of not already knowing what I'm looking for, and furthermore the question I'm asking is the same question everybody else is asking."
Often when I search, I have a keyword in mind, but not necessarily the wording. The autocomplete is great for helping me refine my query. I'm not really sure why Google suggesting common searches would be insulting?
Exactly. Just because forgotusername values clean non-suggestive UIs doesn't mean everyone else does. If Google is to cater to the majority of their clients which they should, based on just how my non-technical friends and family enjoy Google Instant and auto-completion I'd say they've successfully solved their users' problem.
Not to say all of them. I personally don't make use of either features whatever but at least I can disable both!
Often when I search, I have a keyword in mind, but not necessarily the wording. The autocomplete is great for helping me refine my query. I'm not really sure why Google suggesting common searches would be insulting?