Much as I don't want Google to shutdown Reader (though I'm also relying on the http://www.reederapp.com http://www.reederapp.com author sorting out another back

Much as I don't want Google to shutdown Reader (though I'm also relying on the http://www.reederapp.com http://www.reederapp.com author sorting out another back-end), I would suggest that the number of people signing the petition is going to be <= the number of people currently using Reader. And Google have decided that number's not high enough for them to keep it around.