Google Groups is horrendous. The mailing list interface works, which is fine.

However the web interface and search results are a true PITA. Waiting for the page to load just to jump to a random point in the page takes in the order of 5+ seconds on my system.

I remember the first iteration of groups was almost pure html and insanely fast. Like with most google products, it has been bloated to death.

Prior to usenet morphing into a primarily binary distribution channel, it was the primary internet discussion forum. There used to be a usenet search company called "DejaNews". It was awesome. Google bought them and repackaged it as Google Groups.

They later added their own group stuff to it, and google group search became this weird mismash between the two. Searching usenet was easier and faster 10 years ago.