In defence of the big VPN providers.<p>1) Why would you keep logs, when you could then be compelled to hand them over?<p>2) As setting up a VPN company is easy/cheap, you conversely have to spend a large pile of cash to advertize your way to the top. The only asset you really end up with is your name/reputation. Publicly burning a customer would be incredibly expensive.<p><i>Adjusts tinfoil hat</i>
I think the point about VPN providers acting as a honey-pot might have some legs though. Seems incredible to think that whilst NSA and the rest are determined to detect illegal activity online, VPN providers seemingly thrive without any interference/intrusion. My view is that as long as you're not doing anything too bad, you're safe as the cost of your exposure isn't worth it.<p>Of course if the government was having trouble infiltrating/extracting information from the big VPNs due to the volume of traffic, pushing the 'people who <i>really</i> want privacy' to self-identify even further, by creating their own service makes sense.
All the traffic emerging from it (even if encrypted, you know where it's going) can be tied back to the single user.