You can't compare Alissa to Laura though. If Alissa was from Europe or even Canada it would be different, she likely would have tons of national titles/medals and European medals to her name and that would boost her international reputation and give her higher PCS. But because she lives in the US, she is just another American girl, and only has 1 controversial US title and 1 US bronze medal to her name. She never puts 2 programs together, she went to Worlds twice and failed to make the top 10 both times despite being talented enough to place top 5 both times. She's qualified for the GPF once and finished last. Most of the time she doesn't even place that well at nationals, does this girl really deserve to get the marks Lepisto does? Keep in mind Laura has won gold or silver at the past 4 Finnish nationals - was the champion in 2008 and 2010, has medaled at Europeans for the past 3 years - winning the title in 2009, has placed in the top 10 at Worlds for the past 3 years and won bronze there this past spring. Alissa's competitive history is nowhere near as impressive and thus, she remains a tier 2 skater internationally.
Re Worlds. Alissa's FS at the 2009 Worlds was one of her best skates of the season, and that was a 3 ratified triple FS earning her 106 points. Rachael's FS at 2010 Worlds was one of her worst skates of the season, but she managed to rotate 4-5 triples and match Alissa's score from last year. Rachael isn't my favorite skater but when she skates well, which she usually does, she can score near 120 points for the FS - Alissa has yet to prove that she can do the same. Her PB score for the FS is 109 and she earned that 5 years ago before the judges got strict on URs. I know she may not be *as* inconsistent as someone like Kostner or Verner, but they at least have a more impressive competitive history consisting of many national titles, multiple Europeans medals and trips to the GPF, high finishes at Worlds and for Carolina 3 World medals.
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