Plushenko has one thing almost all the other skaters here lack: command. He skates with absolute purpose and confidence (well, except for the first half of that footwork sequence, oy). That should be reflected in some of the PCS, and I think it was fairly scored. Maybe his GOEs were overscored here and there, will have to see the protocols, but I doubt his score was that over the top, at least for me.
On the other hand, I am BAFFLED Brian Joubert got the third highest skating skills PCS so far (after Plush and Verner). He looked painfully slow and tentative on my feed. Maybe my feed is deceptive, but almost all the other top contenders demonstrated far superior SS than him. In fact, his whole PCS is a non sequitur to me. He skated the whole thing like he was cringing.
Totally agree!!!Artur did the elements, but as a dancer he was a miserable failure. Skated with zero involvement with the music, or any awareness or purpose of movement beyond getting through the steps. He looked confused at times. His PCS being higher than Verner is ridiculous.