Why are there so many protein powder options!?!

Yes it matters... are you trying to gain weight or bulk up? Are you watching carbs/sugar?
Are you lactose intolerant?

If you're serious about getting GOOD protein for a specific reason --- then yes, it matters.

If you're just looking for a quick drink and don't care that it has more sugar than protein, then it doesn't matter what you get.
There is a lot of crap out there....but if you're not getting enough protein, its better than nothing!

YES, it matters. Several things to consider:

Whey vs. soy: Soy for the vegans. And some people's bodies dislike one or the other of these, or will digest one or the other better. Try both & see what your body tells you.

Sugar & carbs: if you're drinking it before a workout, a few extra carbs help give you the instant energy you'll need. If you're drinking it after the workout or at any other time of day, you want something with few or no carbs 'cause it will fill you up for longer & give you more steady-burning energy if it's just the protein.

Texture: some brands are smoother, some more gritty, and some mix up more easily than others. Some are better in milkshakes or smoothies, others can be mixed very well with just water. Depends what kind of texture you're going for. Again, you just have to try different kinds in different ways & see what you like.

Personally, my fave is Syntrax Nectar brand 'cause it has no carbs or sugar, mixes very well with just water & a spoon, and they have lots of flavors (cappuccino flavor in coffee with a handful of ice = wonderful treat!).

Like all the other aspects of weight loss, it's lots of trial & error & experimenting to see what works for you. Good luck!

Yes, it matters. Different proteins come from different sources, and will be processed by your body depending on several factors. And yes, a lot of it is also just marketing and BS.

You can sort through alot of the misinformation by reading reviews on bodybuilding forums or training forums for fighters... I've gained some great insight from T-Nation and Sherdog.com (mixed martial arts). Warning - some of the kids in those forums don't play nice... strong language, etc... but it's free.

Regardless, don't worry about the advice turning you into the incredible hulk appearance-wise... I like the info available at these sites because many of these guys have extensive experience with a wide range of supplements over a number of years, and have done a great deal of homework on the subject. They are also likely to analyze the contents of an over-the-counter supplement pretty closely as they are all trying to get the most bang for their buck. They're used to keeping their body at an extreme physical peak, so they weed through the crap pretty quickly. A guy that competes with his body and trains 3-6 hrs per day hopefully has developed a better grasp of what the supplement does than the local part-timer that just started at GNC. There are some BS artists and some outright dummies posting, but there are also some guys that have a grasp of the body chemistry and can translate it to plain english for rubes like me.

Better solution - If you don't mind spending a couple bucks, find a sports nutritionist. If there is a university near you with a human performance or athletic training program, you may be able to locate one there that will work cheaper than someone with a degree.

PS you can get samples from many places too.... and you should try that first because you're definitely going to read something that someone loves and then find it disgusting. I personally hated the optimum and gold standard and syntrax nectar --- but you will find just as many people who love them all. They aren't cheap either. For some people, its the smell that you won't like either... if you have issues with that, please get a blender bottle - they rock!