Having a wide range of influences doesn't mean anything if your music is generic and your songs rip off each other (Nickelback). And I don't know how you've reduced Tool's influences to 2 bands anyway... I believe they're also influenced by Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, Black Sabbath, Meshuggah, the Melvins and Pink Floyd. And even then, bands often only list influences which apply to the majority of the band... Danny Carey himself has obviously been influenced by Indian percussion, jazz drummers etc.
Yes, King Crimson is a huge influence on them... And here's what Robert Fripp from Crimson had to say about Tool. "I happen to be a Tool fan. The members of Tool have been generous enough to suggest that Crimson has been an influence on them. Adam Jones asked me if I could detect it in their music, and I said I couldn’t. I can detect more Tool influence in King Crimson, than I can hear King Crimson in Tool." Pretty generous, coming from Fripp...
Now that we've made it past the influences part which isn't even particularly relevant, Tool is better IMO. I like the band a lot, I hate their fanbase. All their albums are good, and Lateralus is brilliant. Danny Carey is one of the greatest rock/metal drummers ever. Jones is a good guitarist and Justin Chancellor is a pretty decent bassist (even if he does use a pick... just joking
). Maynard is a great vocalist and frankly, his lyrics are brilliant.
I fail to see how Tool isn't timeless when they've already influenced a legion of musicians/bands, have a huge fanbase and quite simply, have a very original sound.
Don't even get me started on Nickelback...