Detailed maps are certainly valuable. Getting those from satellites is impressive, and requires high-resolution imagery as well as lots of computing power.
We can get some satellite imagery for free from weather satellites, but it's nowhere near the resolution needed for street maps.
Sadly you are stuck buying it from a satellite company (expensive) or buying your own satellites (more expensive). My feeling is that 'Maps' is Google's insurance policy against the erosion of search advertising margin.
I could easily see Google making turn by turn or map detail a "small" $4.99/month service rather than having it be free.
We can get some satellite imagery for free from weather satellites, but it's nowhere near the resolution needed for street maps.
https://hackaday.com/2017/12/05/grabbing-raw-images-from-a-n...