Is Google Play Services sampling your location so that it can send it in to Google HQ as part of a secret location tracking operation that runs without user consent or knowledge, or so that it can detect if the device has been stolen by the cops and use its proprietary ML model to activate anti-theft mode to protect the user’s privacy?

They’re the same picture.

If we can actually show mismanagement of user data by Google Play Services, we need to shout it to the hills

We can, and many have been for many years.