How is this different than the media and other content makers putting up pay walls? Not all news is free, someone has to pay. Either advertisers or subscribers. Why not view this a Google becoming a subscriber for the masses. Already many content providers do not allow links directly to content, you must enter thru their gateway. Google linking directly to a story and not a media site's home page bypasses page views (clicks and ad views) of that home page. I think you mentioned that you use an ad blocker, I kind of think of that is stealing.

TEK