I don't think Michelle's UR problems were so severe as you suggest...
They were but it is just to hard to accept by her fans. However, it didn't matter at all under 6.0 so good for her. I'm not saying she would've had her triples downgraded but definitely she she would've had troubles with < marks just like Kanako. On the other hand, Hughes wouldn't have even become known.
For some famous examples her triple loop from 1998 Olympics was half a turn short of rotation as was her triple flip from 2002 Olympics SP. 3 or 4 of her jumps from 2001 Worlds FS should've gotten <.