The success of a project (digital currency here) isn't determined on the value, it's following its adoption, volume, etc. In terms of marketing and awareness, we can't deny a currency developed by Google will have more promotion than Bitcoin has ever got.
Why only for the elite, there is no use to create a cryptocurrency only for a few people, this isn't even viable and would be better to create a private bank or payment processor, whatever.
Such a project would require a banking license to be able to operate and governments will never provide it (the same problem Facebook finally realized). Otherwise why a company like Google would get it and not a small company?
Google received multiple fines for not following local laws, I wouldn't say they're good to do it