you have a point, its why Melburnians waste so much energy bagging Sydney lol Sydney folk don't think about Melbourne.
People compare the two cities as they are virtually the same size. Logically, most people will love their own city more. Melbournians main frustration when I was growing up was that you could not get a decent coffee in Sydney. I imagine that has now long changed.
The cities are very different. Each difference can be seen as a positive or a negative.
Sydney is more picturesque with the harbour, surf beaches, old streets, lots of views/hills. The downside of this is that it is harder to get around. Melbourne is centralised, built in a grid design that more livable, but less interesting.
Sydney is further north so is warmer/more tropical. Great for beaches. Bad for storms, floods, etc.
Sydney has more rich people and more poor people. Melbourne has more people in the middle.
Sydney pubs have tiles on the walls at ground level. We don't. I assume that is to hose them down? Makes sense.
My favourite difference was that Melbourne and Sydney had totally different sporting cultures. AFL in Melbourne is centralised and played in huge, but bland, neutral stadiums, and that RL in Sydney is still local - fans support their local team (like in English soccer), which no longer happens in Melbourne. I used to love that no-one followed AFL in Sydney - unfortunately that is changing. I hated recent attempts by the NRL to be more like the AFL. Centralised stadiums are not for Sydney. I think PVL is often a d*ckhead, but I am all for RL retaining its traditions in Sydney. The more RL tries to be like the AFL, the more it will fall behind the AFL.
P.s. You don't hear many people here bagging Sydney. We like to go there for a holiday. Maybe even catch a game of rugby league.
Victorians would probably spend more time bagging Adelaide (now there is sh*t city).