GameStop here...

Google Now must be primarily for the phone.  I don't see it working on the Nexus 7 since it is wifi only, or am I missing something?

Or if you keep it tethered to your phone...

I like the new option in jelly bean to "disable" any app even the "bloat ware" or "uninstallable" preloaded apps... Once disabled it disappears from all the menus and screens except app management...

I think there's some truth to there being a 'razors and blades' approach in the tech industry.  I don't think the Nexus 7 is really locked down however.   With Apple and Amazon products you are restricted to only buying from their respective stores for games, books, movies etc.   Not so with the Nexus 7.   There's nothing stopping you from buying at Amazon.com or any other place on the web with your Nexus 7 and even though the Google Play store comes preinstalled on your device you can install the kindle or nook apps and buy and read books with those with no restrictions.   On the Kindle Fire for instance, unless you root your device you are not able to install the Google Play app.  So while Google of course would like you to stay with their services and store...they aren't as controlling and 'closed' as the others.  That's one of the nice things about the Android platform.  It's more open than the 'walled gardens' of Apple and Amazon.

The argument that you can use the nexus 7 to acquire books and other media items from places such as amazon can be used with apple also... I've got the kindle app on my iPhone... I can download books from amazon, movies I can watch from other sources than iTunes etc... Don't get me wrong, I'm switching to a galaxy nexus next week, but because apple isn't being near as innovative as google currently is...

I've already got tethering in my cell plan, and I wouldn't want a separate data plan for a tablet anyway... I'll be fine with 16 gigs and tethering to my iPhone till I get a galaxy nexus once the injunction is lifted,..