For MSN when it comes to new sites, a few inbound links so they can find your new sites and the right keyword balance and you will get your first search engine visitors in a couple of weeks. DP
I fully agree with you. My website is pretty new but have very good ranking in most my competitive key words in MSN. But, google refers no one to my site.
I have had a one page splash screen up for a little over 2 weeks now. Already im number 2 on MSN for a very competitive phrase and keywords. Google spiders my site every day, but I don't expect to see any traffic from them for the next 3 months. I think you just have to be organised with your new sites. Start a splash screen for them with some content 3 months before you plan to launch and hopefull Google wil set it free.
MSN seems to really like some of my google sandboxed sites these days, but Yahoo is either sandboxing me or has the opposite opinion of MSN