The reverse indexes were usually quite expensive. We had them in the lawfirm I worked in years ago. You could get a guy's telephone number, look it up, and then call his neighbors, do whatever.
The difference between this service and Google is simply availablilty. Anyone with access to a computer can find a person now, as long as the number is in the system (Google lets you opt out).
I'm not singling out Google as particularly evil or scary; it's just that we were talking about Google here in this vote. And Google is among the best search services around. I like Google. I even used Google Earth to find the building I live in - it's kind of fun. Hey, I live right here! And I see that a neighboring building has a swimming pool on the roof. Maybe I can make friends with the doorman or something, and get in...