The Play Store reviews promises more than a rubber stamp. It's okay to see it as such, but you said above the Play Store doesn't even pretend; If that were the case there would be no review process.
Google will this year address some of the data leaks that are still possible by limiting what apps can do. They introduced the limitations before, now apps will be forced to use the newer API targets that enable them. And that is done via the limitations the Play Store applies to apps (rule based + reviews) and the changed to Android's permission system.
All of that can be criticized in detail, but that they are doing nothing and not even try to project the image that they protect users is just wrong.
As an iOS user who doesn’t care to give my mobile device any thought at all, Google has a long way to go to overcome the perception that behind a thin shiny veneer, the Play store is like Mos Eisley.
That and seamless shared clip boarding keep me from leaving the ecosystem.
