^^ Hmmm
@oleada, Max does have good speed but true he does not have as good skating skills as some men. You may feel differently, but
it is Max's physicality that many people look at and automatically shortchange him for. That view even crept into the commentary by the Eurosport guys. Take a listen, as they speak about Max not having long lines and gracefulness. And well, he definitely can not change his body structure. He has gone a long way in feeling out his moves more and having a greater awareness of stretch and positions, and trying to express the music. He has improved regardless of whether it's widely recognized and acknowledged.
You can talk about the 'emptiness' you perceive in Max's programs all you want. Bottom line: the PCS judging is not fair across the boards and it never has been. Landing perfect quads helps PCS marks and that has been proven to happen all the time. Still Max's issue has been a kind of yearning to be appreciated aesthetically, so he has worried overmuch about that aspect often to the detriment of being consistent on his quads. And he hasn't made great music and program concept choices, coupled with trying to develop additional quads. He has also been trying to find a suitable style that might overcome some of his aesthetic weaknesses. Without consistency on his quads, and with judges unwilling to give him too much credit for where he has improved, Max has struggled over the past few years. If he can keep it together mentally, at least he has had a better start to this season. For sure Max engages the audience as much as one or two of the more 'vaunted on PCS' men do. He just does not have the skating skills that often serve to camouflage presentation weaknesses for some men.
TBH, Elvis Stojko was viewed in a similar fashion as lacking in snobby 'aesthetic qualities', and that's why Elvis did not win the OGM in 1994. But the judges had a change of heart in convening years at the World championships. In addition Elvis prevailed because he was always very confident in focusing on what he was good at and sticking to the style he felt worked for him, as well as being consistent on his tech elements.
Others who have been criticized as lacking in aesthetics due to snobby perceptions, etc., have been Midori Ito, Tonya Harding, Debi Thomas, and Surya Bonaly. More recently, Gabby Daleman has been unfairly criticized for "lacking in refinement," as have Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres, and notoriously Meagan Duhamel (but look how much Meagan has improved her flow and aesthetic qualities).
In any case, as I said, I think the placements were right at CoC for the men, but I have some slight disagreements with some of the specific numbers. Also btw, I never said that Wakaba is a similar skater to Max.
I said the way Max is viewed is not unsimilar to how skaters like Wakaba (et al) are assessed in terms of snobby attitudes about physicality. That does not mean that there are similarities in the way they skate, nor that they have similar strengths and weaknesses. Of course not. Wakaba is in fact a very powerful, very fast, and technically precise skater with great positions and good presentation skills. She's just not a 'stereotypical' dainty, porcelain ice princess, with long lines and 'Grace Kelly' looks, nor IMO does she need to be.
Maybe Lori can work some magic for Max (as she sure has helped Jin Boyang, with a little of the inspiration she gained from doing choreo for Nathan, methinks). 
