Many argue that Google properties are being displayed with increasing prominence when searching although this is simply a result of the shift of search results being about "10 blue links" to "answering your question".
Hence, showing items such as a map or movie times at the top of the search results (powered by, and linking to, Google properties) these are answering the query better than any link could do.
As search becomes more and more about answering queries, not finding links we will rightly see more rich Google content appearing in our search results.
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Pros
Pro It's good for the consumer
Google can fairly be accused of promoting it's own properties although they are doing it in an effort to improve the user experience, not to take advantage of their monopoly to force out competitors.
If a point comes where consumers would be better served by Google not placing their own services so high in results pages then a case for action by the Federal Trade Commission will be appropriate.