The case you'd have to make to Google would be why it would become profitable for them to continue to support versus other methods of doing the same/similar. It's not just a matter of "is there anyone who still wants this?", as they're well aware that there are still many users, even though the popularity is waning. It's a question of "why keep supporting this when it's not as profitable nor as efficient as alternatives?"

Lots of ways to do it without relying on friends. As you already have a Google Account, you could try using G+ to get your news streamed, customized to precisely what you (not your friends) like, should you choose.