Add to this that in the context of Android and Andy Rubin it may be the case that Google paid him $90M because it pretty much owed him $90M no matter what.
This may reflect poorly on Google's competency in negotiating in the past and their willingness to accept blame for poor negotiation.
But, yeah, Google pretending that Andy Rubin left a hero is Google pretending they are (still, if ever) a hero too
I've been wondering about Google's competency with senior executives a few weeks ago, when reading the Anthony Levandowski story that was making the rounds. Despite repeated and blatant acts of disloyalty and self dealing, Google kept throwing money at him.
This may reflect poorly on Google's competency in negotiating in the past and their willingness to accept blame for poor negotiation.
But, yeah, Google pretending that Andy Rubin left a hero is Google pretending they are (still, if ever) a hero too