[Phemist]

Why should they care to make a competing browser at all?

The answer is simple. The google anti-trust case clearly indicates this is _highly_ profitable. As the browser (chrome) is one of the leading ways of increasing Search Query Volume (SQV). SQV increases ad impressions thus increases ad revenue, thus maximizes shareholder value.

Bing has a similar ad platform and with Edge Microsoft will have many ways to send users to do queries in Bing.

Why leave a big piece of juicy pie like this on the table for google to sweep up?