I think I agree with you. As an outsider Chrome looks like an application platform/sandbox for Google apps ('Google's AIR') that is just disguised as a browser. With their own platform they can move features more quickly than by fitting the apps into whatever box Apple/MS/Mozilla build. It could be the early MS playbook all over again. So...

Build whichever browser components remove barriers to entry for users (ad block, compatibility with many existing web apps, better performance/stability/ease of use, etc.) => build widespread adoption => commoditize desktop operating systems.