Also, you do realize that no one is worried about whether "somebody at Github/Google is individually watching you." Unless of course they have an ex-lover at Github/Google.
These organizations, and those capable of secretly subpoenaing them, have software and very fast computers that do the watching. And it's not watching, it's profile building.
I'm not saying that this editor's phoning home of usage statistics is resulting in you being on the no-fly list, but you're argument is missing the point.
Well, let's take your argument, and think it through to it's completion.
What do you think they will do when they have built a profile of you?
Actually, I don't think it's even a huge secret that companies have profiles of customers/users.
Google has a profile of you - and they build targeted ads. I don't see that as particularly evil - Gmail is ad-supported, and I'd rather those ads were relevant to me, rather than endless adds for Cialis (I have no idea what that even is), or for formal dresses or hair extensions.
Github probably has a profile of me - they use it to recommend repos they think I'll be interested in, and keep me coming back to the site.
Microsoft undoubtedly has a profile of me, Yahoo has a profile of me.
Even my supermarket, if I bothered to sign up to their rewards scheme, would have a profile of me.
My credit card company has a profile of me.
All of this is public knowledge - in fact, I think it's better that this stuff is out there, companies acknowledge it and people are aware of it.
Anyhow - to the point - what will happen when these companies, who sell products and services, have profiles of you?
To me - the likely outcome is - they will try to target you better, and get you to buy more products/services.
These organizations, and those capable of secretly subpoenaing them, have software and very fast computers that do the watching. And it's not watching, it's profile building.
I'm not saying that this editor's phoning home of usage statistics is resulting in you being on the no-fly list, but you're argument is missing the point.