What about no default ? Just Prompt user after installation which search engine they want to set as default.
HN users will switch to something they prefer, normal users wouldn't know there exists anything other than google. By making what you think majority wants as default, you are forcing something on people who doesn't know any better.
Google pays Mozilla a bunch of money to be the default search engine, and Mozilla needs the money as they are a non-profit.
If somebody cares about their online privacy, they can change the default search engine very easily - I think what we should be doing is teaching the average web browser what kind of tracking goes on so that more people are willing to switch to things like Firefox/DDG.
No need to lie just to make a point. Firefox does not "compromise the privacy of their users" by using google.com as default search engine. You're going to have write quite the detailed explanation if you want to make that case and make a credible claim at the same time.
HN users will switch to something they prefer, normal users wouldn't know there exists anything other than google. By making what you think majority wants as default, you are forcing something on people who doesn't know any better.