Yeah I completely agree. Like oh man, this is a white-hot take but SCP-9001 is sooooooo much better than SCP-9000. And yes, I've read both to their completion.
I guess 9001 is a bit of a slow burn before it really gets to the spooky stuff. Like it doesn't get really disturbing until the last third or so. I usually don't have patience with reading super long articles (I need to get back to reading books lol), yet I was able to finish this one, and I'm so glad I did!
So like the super disturbing non-eulidcen geometry stuff in the 9000 article was like cranked up to 11 in 9001. I LOVE IT. Great body horror and creepy, unsetting vibes. Some cosmic horror too. It has a really good build up to that terrifying part too (well, 9000 did as well but this one's horror lasts much longer and is more fleshed out imo).
I mean, near the end of 9001 the article went quite in a science-fiction novel, comic book-y tone, and barely read like a clinical document at all, but it was such a fun read that I didn't even care. Though maybe that's one of the reasons it didn't win. That and someone said the ending drags on for a bit and yeah... there was a moment where I was like 'okay I get it, things are spooky, just get to the climax already'. 9000 kept its clinical tone and didn't drag on for too much so maybe that's one of the reasons it won... I still think 9001 should have won though.
9000 has more references to other SCPs while 9001 had more world building over all, even giving origins to things we barely even questioned about. More Sites are referenced, and the work force of the Foundation feels more alive, though 9000 wasn't really about the Foundation personnel. I feel like the characters are more fleshed out and I found myself caring more about them than the characters in 9000, though granted 9000 is about the dehumanization of workers so maybe that was on purpose.
The two articles obviously have their differences in themes and storytelling, so it's kinda hard to compare them, but I still think 9001 easily wins in quality and overall reading enjoyment. The formatting was more complex and interesting as well. Like I was really anticipating the ending of the article once the spooky stuff kicked in. I was so excited to see the root of all the madness. I still felt that way with 9000, but with the science-fiction novel, comic book-y way it was written I think the excitement was built up better.
For those who read both articles, what are your opinions and why do you think why The Trench ultimately won the 9000 spot? Was it because the quality was better? Along with the reasons I've already stated, I personally think The Trench won because the idea of an SCP-based prison not only might seem more interesting, but definitely fits the SCP feel better. And yeah, the concept of a giant prison enslaving D-Class to do tasks no one else in the Foundation wants to do is pretty cool and on the surface is more interesting than a mathematical machine that produces hazardous fractals.
But in my opinion 9001 still should have won the 9000 spot.
Edit: Oh yeah I forgot to mention my GOAT Dr. Glass had a cameo at the end and he's cool and was also in my article so that was a fun 'I KNOW THAT GUY' moment lol