I don't use the gc.com maps often, usually just to see how the caches in a given area are laid out (obviously you can still view a single cache on a Google maps page). But I agree, the new maps are not much fun most days, and there are a lot of complaints in the forums.

I can understand gc.com not wanting or maybe even not being able to pay for google maps, hopefully it will improve over time. We didn't even have maps when I started!

I'll stick to using GSAk and the various Google map macros as much as I can. I also use Oziexplorer at times which can use Google or Virtual Earth maps which have some great imagery.