Max and Maya are different. Simple as that really. Maya has some good tools so does Max. Maya's Nurbs are very cool but then Max's poly modelling tools are some of the best I've ever used. Max has Vray, Brazil etc but then Maya has one of the best renderes ever in the form of Renderman (Pixar). It's all down to the artisti and how he uses the tools he has. Don't get too hung up one one app or the other just use the one you feel most comfortable with and you will learn more and creat more stunning visuals that way. Best of luck to ya. Dan