If we are considering figure skating as an Olympic *sport*, Takahashi really deserved no higher than 3rd - maaaybe 2nd because many of Plushenko’s jumps were off and not their usual standard of execution. If we are considering it an art/exhibition skate then by all means give him the gold.
Figure skating is judged in part on the art displayed by the competitors; it's foolish to continually try and ignore that aspect. Takahashi wasn't far behind technically anyway; according to most judges of this scoring exercise he was technically superior to Lysacek in the SP (including yourself). Even if he's getting 0 points for his quad attempt in the LP, Lysacek only did a 0 GOE double axel in comparison. Lysacek's extra 2Axel and 2Lo in the LP isn't enough to make up for the PCS deficit and the SP deficit.
In fact, *your own scores* for GOE + PCS (every element besides the quad) are 5.6 points higher for Takahashi than Lysacek. Lysacek only has a 4.18 point base value advantage over Takahashi even with that quad attempt receiving 0 points (he gains 3.5 from the double axel in comparison, 1.5 from the 2Lo combo, loses 0.5 on footwork/spins between both programs, and 0.32 for less jump content in the 2nd half of the LP).
Your own GOE and PCS put Takahashi as the winner in this scoring exercise, with the decided upon technical calls!
Interestingly, I was the only judge to give Takahashi a 0 GOE for his jump combo in the SP (which was not rotated better than his 3-3 in the LP) and his last spin in the SP. Also the only judge to not give him a +3 anywhere. In total you gave him 0.1 point less in GOE across both programs than I did, essentially identical, and 1.5 points
more in PCS.
This panel as a whole, compared to the 2010 panel, had a 9.5 point higher differential between Takahashi and Lysacek on GOE/PCS. That's a huge difference and far exceeds the tech panel corrections (which, again, were reviewed and agreed upon).
Even with no tech panel adjustment, 5 out of 9 judges on this panel still score Takahashi higher than Lysacek!
While watching this competition one of the things that stood out to be was how much smoother Chan was than almost anyone else, it was evident especially in sections of the short program. Having gone back and watched that it was clear to me the way some aspects of skating skills have evolved in the past 10 years.
I don't see Chan being smoother than Kozuka though, nor better in total skating skill here. Where, exactly, do you see this in the performances? Chan also had a clear stumble in the footwork in the SP (both of them had a minor slip in the LP footwork, also). Kozuka's edges and glide over the ice are outstanding; looking at what he's getting from the blade I don't see any less than what Chan showed. His ability to do deep curved edges with long lobes was especially apparent in the LP; I saw a bit more there from him than Chan. I'd also very much like to hear how Chan's performance quality and interpretation of Phantom of the Opera was better than Kozuka's soulful LP.
It's strange how certain people (not you) keep repeating stories about Chan doing figures when he was younger and training that aspect of his skating so much, when Kozuka also did a ton of figures and extensive skating skills training ever since was young, coached by experts who prioritized those aspects. There is a political slant here that needs to be addressed. Chan was actively pushed by Canada as a "champion", more than Kozuka was, and was himself more outspoken (also thanks to being able to speak fluent English). Then when Chan suddenly developed a relatively consistent quad, the reputation scoring just exploded and it was treated as if nobody else knew how to skate in comparison to him, and as if this aspect overruled everything else which is supposed to constitute artistry and performance, or other technical capabilities in skating.
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Lmao this is hilarious given that Takahashi’s quad landed forward and was close to being downgraded.
It wasn't landed forward whatsoever, by any metric. He's more sideways than forward and, additionally, he starts the rotation on his quad earlier. His actual air rotation is more than a large number of quads which received no call at all. He's doing 3.3 rotations (and can be seen as at least 3.25 "creditable" rotations), and many others have been credited with the base of 3.25, or even much less, when tech panels don't properly look at pre-rotation and then decide to call a jump with 3 air rotations as a successful quad.
Lysacek has had a slew of quads that have been ratified including both programs at the 2007 GPF, 2007 4CC FS and 2008 4CC SP. Yes there was some pre-rotation but the landing is what is most important. He certainly landed with greater rotation than Takahashi’s 2010 quad. If Lysacek didn’t land his quads backwards then none of his quads would have ever been ratified
His 2007 4CC quad was definitely short (pre-rotated
at least .6 of a turn and comes down .25 short, for a total of 3.15 rotations in the air
at most) but the panel gave it to him. The landing is not inherently "the most important" either: if you pre-rotate 3/4 of a turn (1/4 more than should be allowed) and then landed perfectly "backwards", that is the exact same, in terms of counting rotation, as landing what appears to be "1/4 short" from a takeoff with only 1/2 turn pre-rotation. It makes no sense to judge the ending of something with no perspective at all for where it started. When you are drawing a circle or any line, the ending point can only exist in relation to where it started. That is a fact. Figure skating does not alter the laws of physics and mathematics.
Lysacek would usually land sideways on his quad, and always short of backwards. It's incorrect to say "if he didn't land backwards, his quads wouldn't have been ratified", because a perfectly backwards landing is not required for credit. When combined with the amount he pre-rotated (always at least 1/2 turn, usually more), Lysacek never did a quad in competition that was more than about 3.25 rotations in the air...usually less. Takahashi's quad rotation was truly not worse than a quad attempt that pre-rotates 1/2 turn and then comes down 1/4 short, which the rules would credit.
Takahashi's longstanding issue is his jumps don't have the speed nor the amplitude of the other skaters and this is reflected in his GOE; particularly on his toe jumps he lacks flow. It's why his 3F+3T< was underrotated
Takahashi had excellent amplitude and usually good speed on his jumps. Obviously he didn't execute
every jump perfectly all the time. His 3F+3T was NOT more than 1/4 underrotated, and speed/amplitude would have nothing to do with calling such a thing; that shows a big misunderstanding of mechanics. The actual "issue" with Takahashi's toe jumps is that he pre-rotated less, making it so he rotated more in the air than other people, and thus more difficult to land; tech panels usually failed to recognize this (and had big issues in general with calling things properly).
And it makes no sense to diss Lysacek’s continuous inside edge change on his spin, as there’s nothing wrong with repeating a feature (a subtle one to ensure sufficient rotations at that) - from what I recall you extol Arakawa’s gold from 2006 but haven’t ever slammed her for doing a donut position in each one of her four spins. I suppose if it’s Lysacek though the tune changes.
It makes perfect sense, because choreography matters and positions matter for assigning GOE. It's not only his easier repeated edge change, but his easier and uninteresting repeated sit positions. A beautiful donut position is more worthy than what he showed (particularly because it went better with the music). Arakawa also showed other positions that are harder than anything Lysacek did to get his levels. I never said Arakawa had perfect choreography, and there's many other variables to consider than this one thing, no need to straw man the discussion. Also, it's hardly an outlier or unreasonable opinion that Arakawa's program was better than Lysacek's.
). I too had Evan coming out on top like the original and the panel here did. I had Plush in 2nd - albeit barely ahead of Dai - thanks to his higher jump BV and skating clean. 
