The difference between microspikes and Yaktrax is designed use. Yaktrax are designed for urban/suburban use in going from point A to point B without slipping in slush, light snow, and ice. Microspikes are designed for trail use specifically, to walk on ice/snow covered rock, frozen mud and steep slopes. Microspikes are far more sturdy than Yaktrax, standing up to any surface I have used them on, including mud, gravel, rock, hard ice, packed snow, and pine duff/loose dirt when moving between snowfields.
Microspikes will wear down when used in gravel and on rock, but it takes a lot of that to start denigrating their bite, they can be sharpened if you are so inclined. They sometimes "snag" as they extend the bottom of your boot/shoe by about a half inch, your brain may not figure out you have to add that half inch to each foot fall for a while and you can "snag" tops of rocks and roots until you get used to them. Frankly, I would not be in any forests in winter conditions without them.