To have political and territorial power in the new world, one should be strong in the first place
Strength is the core and foremost to have that influence and power in the new world where the rules are strong live and weak follow/die.
No Yonko is ruling new world because of their intelligence and wit, without strength everything falls apart.
Nobody is taking other Yonko territories unless they have the strength to beat them nor build your own empire unless you have the strength to match them so that other Yonko would think twice before attacking you.
Let me ask not only you but every other anti Yonko community......Who are your top 5 current strongest pirates , everyone of you would still put all these Yonko at the top list down the order with Mihawk the only pirate that certain fandom would make competing with these Yonko.
Or let's say any other current living pirates who you put above/on par with these Yonko?? Only Mihawk (by certain fandom) right??
This is why Yonko being called 4 most powerful pirates is legit and correct not just in political power and influence but with personal strengths too.
That's what the story portrayed them.
Because how much the story portrayed to be them like this, majority of the fandom keep wanking them, it's no surprise
Even Luffy( the guy who seem to give no fuck about Yonko status) word to Momo that after biting an Emperor there isn't anything to be scared in the world
This is unbias talk
They really are 4 most powerful pirates