It has nothing to do with ego stroking. From the pics that get posted of the entries in all the GD competitions globally, generally speaking it's a fact! What happened over at Creafigs was aimed directly at you Eric, not your country.
If I had to name the best GD entering painters at the moment, my list would include Allan C, Kiril Kanaev, J A Gillois, Monsieur Bonamant (much as it galls me...) and yes, probably Ms Melnik.
The evidence is pretty irrefutable. Multiple Demons from a range of competitions against the best there is.
Nobody's said that the painting in the US is inferior, just the level of competition at some of the GD's. Honestly, it's some of you Yanks who have made a big song and dance about it and are spitting all the fire and brimstone stuff. The best GD comp around at the moment judging from the pics I see is the French one. It leaves UKGD for dead too I reckon.