Google really wants you to set Google.com as your homepage. You would think they would not keep taking away Google homepage features that users love, like iGoogle and the ability to set your background image, then, but they have done so on both counts.

We’re starting to wonder if Google has some major homepage-related plans.

When Google told users their background images would be going away, they said, “As we build a more streamlined Google Search page for everyone, we’ll no longer be able to support customization with background images.”

Now, Google is going so far as to advertise to users that they set their homepage to Google, as Danny Sullivan points out. He shares a screenshot of a Google search for “google,” where an Adwords ad is displayed, saying, “Make Google Your Homepage” as the headline, with the additional text saying, “Access Google Conveniently By Setting It s Your Browser Homepage.”

He shares an additional ad, which has “Google At Your Fingertips” as the headline, with “Make Google Your Default Choice. It’s Quick And Easy.” as the additional text. Clicking the ads takes you to a landing page, where you’re encouraged to “Make Google your homepage,” and “get instant access to search and more, every time you open your browser.” There’s a button to “get started”.

Reasons for setting Google as your homepage, according to the landing page, include:

• Never miss a Doodle: From art to instruments to games, have fun with the Doodles you love.
• Search Instantly: See results as you type, helping you see where you’re headed, every step of the way.
• I’m Feeling Luck: Discover trending searches, famous artwork, local restaurants, and more.

If you’ll recall, Google recently expanded the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button to include more adjectives.

So why the big homepage push all of a sudden? And at a time when Google is making the homepage experience more uniform to all users? Does Google have something homepage-related getting ready to go down, or is this just a strategy to keep people from going Bing or Yahoo?

Yahoo is expected to launch a new homepage soon, and Microsoft keeps giving people more reasons to use Bing.