As a counterpoint: I think this article is fantastic. API restrictions are incredibly annoying when they pertain to what I consider to be my data. Should data and interface be so tightly joined? Of course not.
EDIT - Completely serious, you mean data you put on other peoples servers, using their services and expect them to let you have it back when and however you want it? Let's be serious here. You're lucky they let you access it at all.
