maya was first 3D package I started to learn. as I´m on practical work with a firm working with max only I will have to get comfortable with this package too. basically I think it´s not that bad having knowledge of more than one software package.

one thing I heared about max in comparison to maya tho is about the memory management. working with more than few 100,000 quads in the perspective panel slows down max in a perceptible way, despite your amount of RAM, due to its core architecture which is said to be still quite the same as in the beginning. when was max first time published? (don´t know if true - I was just told)

btw people, learn zBrush! this is a real enhencement to maya!