It has never been illegal. Public opinion against it was stronger than Google and they have obviously not dared to try again.

Most major cities (where most of the population lives) have been mapped out.

It's old data. But the 3D view from the plane cams is a good enough replacement at this point (where it is available), if you want a better view of an area than a satellite gives.

Apart from just being nosey, i find street view helpful when driving to an address you don't know, for picking out landmarks etc. The 3D view just about makes up for the lack of street view in that regard.

I find street view useful, but I also think it's a massive invasion of privacy and if it were banned I would not be upset.

I don't think that's a fully correct characterization. Those scenes that exist are still from 2008. They seem to have given up after the initial storm. And I'd not deem it completely out that another protest wave would start should they try again.