the reason Bing/Yahoo will never produce more quality results that Google is because Google has beaten them to the data that really matters. The extensive feedback loops that tell Google how long people spend on websites is absolutely crucial to the Google algorithm.

It's really quite basic but there is so much bad information out there to get distracted by that most people end up disregarding what Google says right on dear homepage for webmasters "build a good site". most people read too far into this and don't want to face the reality of building a solid site that naturally attracts visitors.

Throughout history Google has monitored and analyzed the amount of time people spend on websites. This tells Google how much people like the websites. And whichever website achieves a higher score will ascend in the rankings. not knowing this is why many people at this form struggle to understand why some sites outrank them with less back-links. it's not all about back links. Back links only get you noticed by Google, the rest is up to the site: people have to like it.

So to answer your question, the reason Yahoo/bing will never defeat Google is because Google has already monopolized the data feedback loop that tells Google how much people like websites. It has been confirmed by Verizon that Google has negotiated and secured exclusive rights to ISP data. This data is anonymous and so currently it cannot be defeated in court.

The Google toolbar that was launched so many years ago was the first method of Google measuring people's activities at websites. when the other search providers realize this we saw a flood of toolbars spill onto the net. Yahoo, ask.com, Alexa, and who knows how many others battled to get their toolbar in your browser. Before you knew it you had 4 inches of toolbars.

But by that time it was too late because Google had already moved on from toolbar model and the only logical place for them to go was the ISPs. And now that they have secured the ISPs - Yahoo/bing are quite simply - Shut Out... and will never catch up on that aspect. this is why bing forced its way on to the latest generation of blackberries( I bet it cost a fortune even at their level ). they are still chasing after the data they need that Google currently monopolizes

this is why you see the confusing mess of results that you asked about. Yahoo/bing are pathetically crawling around the net in an attempt to form an algorithm that can produce quality results.