The first time I realized how 'up close and personal' some of this stuff is I thought it was a little creepy. Now, however, I use it all the time when I'm going somewhere I've never been. I look at the photos along the route so I have a better idea of what to look for.
Something else I've started using it for - I work with a dog rescue group. When I have an application that looks promising I can check out the general neighborhood before I ever call the people or do the home check. It is very helpful to get an idea of the environment where you might be placing a dog.
Oh, and I agree with Tartan. Privacy these days is just an illusion.