Hi Carmen :)
That doesn't seem quite right. Assuming both the server software and the client software is proprietary, then the difference is indeed minimal
Indeed, and this is I guess the core of my argument: whether the proprietary software used to interface with Google runs on my computer, or a remote server, doesn't affect my freedom. What would affect my freedom is if we could get Google to release -- as Free Software -- the interface that runs client side.
That's not likely to happen I suppose :-) But it at least answers the question of what COULD be done to affect our freedom.