I see the general point being made here, but it's important to put it in context. The current homepage design is arguably more minimalistic and useful than any design from 2000 onwards. Links to other Google services are conveniently located in a bar at the top where they don't get in the way (as opposed to crowding the area around the search box previously). I can click a microphone and speak my query. When I start typing, results start loading instantly. All improvements in my book, and definitely worth it for the broadband world, which is probably a lot of Google's business at this point. I think it's important to separate minimalist and usable design from minimalist HTML -- I'm sure Google is keeping an eye on their page size and making conscious cost-benefit decisions here.

Now don't get me started on the results page though...