Yes, I agree that Gmail is safe, since it’s used by far too many people.
But I think this may be more a sign of the times than a problem with Google. It’s not as though Apple is any better about orphaning products, unfortunately.
It’s one thing when it’s a product from an individual or small company and the business model just doesn’t work. But it’s frustrating when the product or service comes from a juggernaut and probably has more than enough users to satisfy any smaller firm.