I just think you are ignoring the evidence from the book that puts what you are calling "higher than average" a great deal more rare than you are giving credit.
But we don't even have an accurate channeling sample to go on. We need a sample of thousands of channelers from the population, which we don't have. The fact that there are three strong women like Elayne who became friends tells me that their strength is unheard of in the Tower, but probably not as extremely rare as they make out. If they tested hundreds of women, they're probably find one or two more of their calibre.
I also think it's inaccurate to call Egwene/Elayne etc merely "Strong". Every shred of evidence in the book puts them at just below the highest echelons of female strength, with maybe a dozen or so women with more strength, out of thousands of women who can channel there are likely to be less than 100 who are stronger, and even fewer (if any new agers) with more skill. It's kind of like saying having a 175 IQ is just "smart" simply because there are a few people out there with a 200 IQ.
I think they are a level below the Forsaken, and that level is pronounced. There's no real evidence that they can compete, even remotely, on that level, and a lot against it. Moiraine thinks that Aviendha and Egwene linked could maybe fight a Forsaken, and Egwene thinks that linked with Romanda and Lelaine she wouldn't match one of the Forsaken. It's a telling sign.
While I generally agree that Lanfear is practically unique, I don't think there is evidence in the books to support your claim that she is "several levels" above Graendal. It's obvious that she was stronger, but other than knowing she is weaker as Cyndane yet still stronger than Graendal we don't have anything to go on. We don't even have conclusive proof that Graendal is the next strongest of the FS, lots of hints, but it's possible Semirhage and Mesaana possess more raw strength (in fact I don't recall ever hear that Cyndane is in fact stronger than either of them), which is the only way I can really see Lanfear being more than 2 rungs higher than Graendal.
Lanfear is at least two levels above Graendal, so 'several levels' is an acceptable term.
Personally I think you tend to make the Forsaken strength spread too wide (between each other). I see them as all very close (with the exception of Moghedien) in absolute strength, but with vastly different skill levels.
I think that there are many levels of strength between them, but that the difference between the highest and lowest (except for Moghedien) is perhaps only 10%, making strength all but irrelevant but measurable.
Semirhage probably being the top of the skilled heap, or perhaps Graendal. I say this because Graendal is unsure that Demandred is more capable than Semirhage in her tGS POV and she has no reason to be lying. In fact I would go so far as to say that Semirhage and Graendal were likely 2 of the most highly skilled women of their age, both achieved the 3rd name, both were world famous in their fields and both caused a great stir when they went over to the DO.
Well I guess the case could be made for Lanfear being extremely skilled by virtue of her working at the Collam Daan, which Mesaana could not. However, it's good enough for me that Lanfear, Semirhage and Graendal were considered the most powerful of the Forsaken females during the War of Power.
Lanfear on the other hand had to make a dramatic announcement that she was going over, and really did anyone care that a disgraced (if very strong) researcher who had no distinction other than being LTTs stalker ex-gf became Forsaken? Moghedien and Mesaana probably barely got notice when the went over... in fact I'd bet Mesaana means "Giver of Detention" 
I think it's irrelevant what you were before the War of Power. Having a third name because you gave a lot to a utopian society is hardly something to mention when applying to be a Forsaken.
I don't think there is any evidence that any of the Forsaken feared or even really respected Lanfear all that much despite her strength, oh they were wary of her temper as none of them seem to relish open conflict and they all pretty much hated her guts (of course that's nothing unusual for them), but if she was really so much more powerful than any of the other women they would have been much less likely to openly stand against her, Semirhage clearly makes it obvious that she hates the woman and seems to have no fear at all.
Lanfear was bad enough to become Semirhage's arch enemy. Considering Semirhage is one of the most deadly women alive, it's likely she wouldn't risk confronting the woman she hates so much.
IMO the skill levels (which the FS are clearly more impressed by):
Semirhage/Graendal
Lanfear
Mesaana
Moghedien
Semirhage/Graendal
Lanfear
Mesaana
Moghedien
With regards to skill, I'd go...
- Semirhage/Graendal/Lanfear
- Mesaana
- Moghedien
for the Men it's less obvious IMO but I'd say:
Ishy/Aginor
Demandred/Sammael
Be'lal/Rhavin
Balthamel/Asmodean
Sadly if Aginor had ever grown a pair he could have gone even further, but his general lack of anything resembling a spine held him back in this unscrupulous lot.
Ishy/Aginor
Demandred/Sammael
Be'lal/Rhavin
Balthamel/Asmodean
Sadly if Aginor had ever grown a pair he could have gone even further, but his general lack of anything resembling a spine held him back in this unscrupulous lot.
For men...
- Demandred
- Ishamael/Aginor
- Sammael/Be'lal/Rahvin/Balthamel/Asmodean
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Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
Is Nynaeve of "very rare" strength?
- 21/11/2009 02:53:22 PM
1382 Views
BS said...
- 21/11/2009 02:57:58 PM
726 Views
Actually, you are adding a word that isn't there.
- 21/11/2009 03:47:48 PM
940 Views
IMO, it's self evident that the female list only contains named characters
- 21/11/2009 03:58:33 PM
606 Views
IMO, the above post by "Logain" is trolling and not worth the debating!! *NM*
- 21/11/2009 04:01:08 PM
209 Views
Re: IMO, it's self evident that the female list only contains named characters
- 21/11/2009 04:09:58 PM
453 Views
I don't know
- 21/11/2009 04:17:02 PM
421 Views
I find it unlikely that a super strong channeler would end up being unimportant to the plot *NM*
- 21/11/2009 11:54:43 PM
207 Views
she's in the top 0.1% of channelers we know of
- 21/11/2009 03:01:02 PM
488 Views
She's in the top 0.05% *NM*
- 21/11/2009 11:41:42 PM
204 Views
Re: Is Nynaeve of "very rare" strength?
- 21/11/2009 06:00:29 PM
440 Views
So, in terms of Nynaeve's power, do you think she is VERY rare? *NM*
- 21/11/2009 06:23:14 PM
210 Views
Yes. She is so rare that she is mythic. A foiled Nynaeve can prolly fetch $100. *NM*
- 21/11/2009 09:59:28 PM
204 Views
*NM*
- 21/11/2009 09:59:28 PM
204 Views
So what's the point? Why the quotes? *NM*
- 21/11/2009 10:24:37 PM
190 Views
Well...
- 21/11/2009 11:44:40 PM
485 Views
I really doubt Nynaeve strength channelers are one in thousand...
- 22/11/2009 12:09:15 AM
478 Views
I agree with you!
- 23/11/2009 12:48:35 AM
413 Views
Re: I agree with you!
- 23/11/2009 03:56:14 AM
435 Views
Re: I agree with you!
- 25/11/2009 05:50:06 PM
442 Views
Re: I agree with you!
- 26/11/2009 05:10:22 PM
535 Views
Re: I agree with you!
- 26/11/2009 07:22:30 PM
423 Views
Re: I agree with you!
- 26/11/2009 07:36:38 PM
387 Views
Hmmm...
- 26/11/2009 10:38:44 PM
437 Views
Re: Hmmm...
- 27/11/2009 04:36:59 AM
464 Views
Re: Hmmm...
- 27/11/2009 05:40:50 AM
485 Views
Re: Hmmm...
- 27/11/2009 04:42:36 PM
492 Views
Re: Hmmm...
- 27/11/2009 05:53:11 PM
422 Views
Re: Hmmm...
- 30/11/2009 04:44:41 AM
480 Views
Don't forget Therava. She's stronger than any woman in the tower according to Galina.
- 28/11/2009 09:41:10 PM
377 Views
Re: Don't forget Therava. She's stronger than any woman in the tower according to Galina.
- 29/11/2009 12:40:02 AM
596 Views
Fionwe1987 is right. We do have a large enough sample. And the linking examples are good. *NM*
- 28/11/2009 09:32:14 PM
193 Views