I'm not so sure that the revenue stream from Google is the principal reason. No harm in it for sure but it's not like Apple are hurting on that front.

The other key points, cool Mac app = halo effect, and likely safari-friendly web sites being more common.... I dunno.

The only other app Apple have released for Windows was iTunes and that was to drive iPod sales. The obvious leap to make is that there's some future in Safari's roadmap that would bring additional functionality to the iPhone.

Could it be some 'integrate your life online' with your device via Safari? Possibly with your keychain? All those sites and identities that you have on your Mac or PC are synced over to the iPhone? Your browser state is synced over?

The biggest issue for me is syncing, I want to be able to take up again on the Net where I left off, no matter what device I am working on.

But I wonder if that is enough either... Hmmm....

I must go and listen to your show, it's downloading..,