User blog comment:Friendlysociopath/Ask the FriendlySociopath/@comment-27243753-20151208191915/@comment-3463132-20151209154152

I can use other examples if you don't like Marvel.

Is Batman the level of any super-villain he takes on during the Justice League days?

Is Link planet-level in durability and DC because he took on Demise?

Is Dante lightning-speed because he takes on enemies who move as lightning?

Is Shepard the level of a Reaper? Surpassing them in durability or strength?

Is Maka Albarn as fast and strong as Black Star?

Is Cloud stronger and faster than Sephiroth?

If I accept "beat them in a fight" to mean they physically surpass those they beat in every area, and "held their own against them" to mean they match them physically, all of those hold true.

As Batman is not the level of the people he beats, Spiderman is not planetary despite taking on Thor, Dante does not move the speed of lightning, Shepard can't tank nukes with no issue, Maka doesn't move so fast she produces afterimages with mass, and so on- I can safely say that premise simply doesn't hold up when put under actual scrutiny.

Powerscaling is flawed and not accurate, that is why I do not use it, that is why DB doesn't use it, that is why Comicvine and god knows how many other sites say not to use it- because it's not the best way to determine what a character can do- feats are the best way to discover what a character can do.

"If you beat someone then you're as strong as them"

True or False, I can beat someone stronger than me if I'm faster and hit them a lot while avoiding being hit?

True or False, I can beat someone faster  than me if I'm too durable for them to harm?

True or False, I can beat someone more skilled than me if I physically exceed them?

True or False, I can beat someone physically superior to me if I'm a better fighter?

^If you answer even a single one of those as "True" then you admit powerscaling is not always viable.

It's not speculation

Speculation:''' the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence. '''

That is exactly what powerscaling is, "firm evidence" would be feats, powerscaling is speculation- nothing more.