I prefer Maya to Max and to XSI (having used all 3). I find Maya for more intuative and easier to model with. XSI would rank 2nd for me and Max last. But...

... all 3 have there own strengths and you are finding more an more studios switch between each one.

As for the Microsoft comment... Wrong, MS get a real bad rep as the OS crashes. It's not the OS its the poorly constructed applications that go on the OS. Saying that MS are being slapped for releasing SDK's and info where the code isn't set to a low enough code level, therefore we end up with poorly constructed apps. mainly this is all about earning money through Gold Support. ahhh the might buck wins again.

Maya is great on every OS