We like to exaggerate. Just kidding.
I know, right? Like, "American ladies? What a sorry state they're in."
Well, 50 pages and the Senior season hasn't started yet!
I don't think Sotnikova would have won a medal this past season at Worlds. It was a foregone conclusion that the podium was going to be Kim, Kostner, and Asada unless one did a zamboni impression in multiple locations throughout the rink in both programs. She wasn't eligible the year before to skate at Senior Worlds, because I could see you making a case in 2012 IF she had been eligible. Sotnikova COULD have been 4th/5th in '13 if she'd been clean, though.
Europeans is notoriously overscored, though, as is 4CC. She would have been below those three unless Asada fell on her rear a couple times, and even then, it would have been close. As I said, 4th or 5th (probably 4th, as Kanako took advantage of some others' shortfalls at Worlds this year and Sotnikova clean would have beaten Murakami's outing) would have been the best she could have hoped for.
I think there are a number of ladies who could be dominant after Sochi and at least three of them are from the US. As polish, maturity, and presentation (PE is more an "execution" mark than presentation in the tradiitional sense) aren't really "scored" anywhere under IJS as much as big clean jumps (including a 3+3) and fast, non-clunky and intricate skating which (assuming they fix their headspace) a couple US ladies have in spades already. Gold's already pulling down big scores when she's mostly clean because her tech along with her speed and intricacy are leading to big points already and whether you want to admit it or not, she DOES skate "big" and reaches to the cheap seats, even if it is meh choreography. She needs to be consistent with EVERYTHING and not bury herself with stupid mistakes to build momentum. Hicks has the big ticket elements but needs to work on the non-clunky part to be in that mix and also her consistency and control. Zawadski needs to get consistency (especially on her edge jumps) and a 3Lo. Edmunds needs to gain more power and command in her skating and look less shaky on her elements and make sure everything is rotated completely. Wang needs consistency. Long needs stronger skating skills. Bell needs a 3+3. Miller needs bigger jumps and a 3+3 (although her jumps did look considerably bigger at Grand Rapids this summer than they did last summer when I saw her). Between Bell and Miller, not sure who has more charisma/it factor, but they have the most of this younger US generation of those I've seen in person (and that includes all of the skaters in this paragraph excepting Hicks).
Adelina is the exception IMO. She has the polish, maturity, presentation and performance that would allow her to rise to the top of this newer crop of ladies. Technique is what's been killing her the past two years; if her jumps weren't so unstable she could be a world medalist right now. But if all of the aforementioned ladies were given the same music, choreography and jump layout (and assuming everyone skated cleanly), Adelina would score the highest: her jumps are solid when she lands them, her spins are excellent, good speed, great flow and edging, lovely lines and control, she skates big enough to leave an impression, and she knows how to engage an audience and perform. None of the other ladies can do all of that right now...
I'd add Karen Chen to that list as well. Assuming she gets past puberty in one piece, she's very likely to be a complete package skater.
Adelina's program has everything you're looking for in a burlesque show. A few growls, a few puke-inducing moments, cheap choreography, awkward postures. Yup, she's a whole package, alright. One that is left in the rain for too long.
She's more 6-10 type of skaters. Maybe get lucky one day and score a world medal, but I don't see her being chased or being the bronze favorite in any big event in the future, even after the Big Three hang up their skates.
Oh FlattFan...
She's a talented girl so I won't count her out just yet. Her issues are not irreparable but she does need help to fix them. Whether or not her team actually gets her that help will be a determining factor in where she'll end up post-Sochi.
Now the Russian ladies could have some things to say about that but no lady has show that much promise including consistency of jumps or pcs to challenge Gold or Wagner..
I think Adelina does go for quantity over quality. An easier jump layout may make it easier for her to have a clean performance and that would result in better scores all around.