Your2ndPlace

Yeah, if we just duplicate the world and leave it at that, there isn't much added value. But I don't think that's what I'd see would be the only reason to replicate (or I should say, simi-replicate) the real world. We can already see people tagging meta data to real life places. If you advance that to provide virtual interaction, and especially augmented reality, then you can do what you're saying and better integrate with the planet.

I can't for-see all the practical application for such technology but here's a possible example for integrating virtual worlds with a real world map and augmented reality:
With augmented reality eventual available on headset, you could rez an avatar in real world places for others to see and share avatar visuals, objects, communication. Thus, if i were to surf a virtual globe that replicated the earth somehow, I could access public places and be able to teleport there. Then I can interact with: physical people there, virtual people there, the virtual objects, screens, products, video from live cameras, virtual entertainment, that they might be including for the physical world people to access via augmented reality web connection. Might we need Google Earth-like map to do so? no. But it's an interesting idea to do such a thing none-the-less. But I think augmented reality via headset, will change things and potential make this virtual earth idea more valuable, specifically for public access to augmented spaces. But to do this right now is pointless.

On a simi-related topic, here's one of my blog posts on augmented products:
http://www.rezyourmind.com/2007/08/vbusiness-virtual-products.html