You know what i didnt downvote rather i upvoted you .

Also let me tell you this Microsoft actually announced in a event (in my country ofcourse) that they were building the backend together with isp , this is better compared to direct connects.

They can also have direct connects with isps like google they have money and partnerships.

Coming to transfer protocols, decoding and things hmm Microsoft is also doing custom things. They've said about video decode in their xcloud news.

From what im seeing there is no point in comparing as both companies i.e; Google and Microsoft keep updating and doing things.

I think we'll only know once both services come out then people can review.