Ha! I also use DuckDuckGo (a pain even to type) but get around your issue by just saying I'll google it, just like calling any photocopy a xerox or any tissue a kleenex.
I tried DuckDuckGo once or twice and didn't like the results it returned, so I regressed to Google, but I avoid the data collection issue by NEVER logging in.
And speaking of it, do you remember when the pull-off backing on a Band-Aid was entirely printed over with "BAND-AID IS A TRADEMARK?" It wasn't in your face, so I imagine that many people missed it.
