Matt,
You make two very good points that are completely lost on some people.

While you have a good rating it is easier to promote the class. In the past I have seen this help other classes and no doubt it will help classes in the future. Just the way it is. Recognise its worth for the short time that it exists.

When the class is continually compared against another class it looks like a small person trying to make themselves look big by cutting down others. It creates conflict and it is much harder to attract people to a class always involved in conflict or disliked because of the way they try to drag down others.

We need to put out positive friendly vibes to everyone.
Positive friendly helpful people are good to be around and it is as much about the people as it is about the boat.

David- like your sign off- there was a time when I had a motto of
"Sail it and they will come."