[MyOutfitIsVague]

It was more than just too many competing browsers, from what I understand. It was a few competing browsers that interpreted standards completely different, and a standards body that was slow enough to be completely ineffective.

I'd argue that the main problem was not too much competition, but effective anti-competitive behavior (and simple laziness) from Microsoft in particular. The frustrating experience was primarily caused by Internet Explorer.

[Jensson]

We will move back to a worse version of that when Microsoft buys Chrome, since now Google aren't allowed to compete in this space.