I think Yahoo knows it can't compete with Google in search results, so why creating a page where the only thing you can do is experience crappy search results and nothing else?<p>At least this way they're attracting a niche of people who do like a more portal like search engine. And in some places that niche is the majority of the population, like in Japan, where Yahoo seems to be very successful.<p>If the users just want a search box they have <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/" rel="nofollow">http://search.yahoo.com/</a>. I don't know if they can customize that do be the default.<p>So the thing "Yahoo don't quite get it" doesn't seem right to me.