As other people mentioned, the competition between the two men in discovering the most dinosaurs was enthralling, if not a bit sad. But on the other hand, I think most people can relate to wanting credit for something, and perhaps that is what it boils down to (although not entirely.) "Compromise" isn't quite an action people are naturally inclined to employ. Competition is "healthy" in a way--it fuels motivation to discover. It is a theme throughout our readings--perhaps everything in the museum can be traced back to some contest of wills--whether between two men over dinosaurs, or between the West and the cultures they were taking objects from. Dinosaurs seem almost unreal mythical illusions in contemporary society which is why I guess it's so important that we have records of them, and the people who were involved in their discovery. In a way, Marsh and Cope both won if we're still reading about them all these years later.