Why does Google win?

Because Google knows what it is like being a webmaster. You don't want to wait around - you want it done asap.

I read today that Google, MSN, and Yahoo had all standardized on a sitemaps format. More information at Sitemaps.org. Kudos on that.

But the submission process is crappy. You can submit directly to Google, but that is well hidden. Otherwise you have to sign up for their Webmaster Tools site. A bit cumbersome, but it is rather nifty. That is for another day.

MSN lets you submit a URL, but it asks you for a captcha every time. Really - this is just annoying. If I am an automated robot that beat your captcha the first time, I can damn well beat it the second time. Plus, sitemaps are supposed to be guidelines. I would imagine that once a domain/site has enough trust/authority, the sitemap would then just be a way of getting in. So boo for hassling me in that manner.

Yahoo - they have Site Explorer. So okay, like Google, they make me register. Fine. But the entire process? Way behind Google. Google makes you upload a blank file with a name, and then immediately verifies it. Yahoo? You must upload some text (for most people, not a big problem, but for me and how I work online, creating a file is 100x easier than adding content in it). On top of that, the verification is 'queued'. I now sit six hours later, with my sites stuck in pending.

Google: Makes me register, but instant verification, two methods, and tons of interesting data
MSN: No registration required, but damn annoying captcha (it adds up with each URL)
Yahoo: Makes me register, cumbersome verification, no idea if I get any associated information.

Google still gets it, while MSN and Yahoo are still left looking.