Brannew even considered Buggy as Shanks rival so that doesn't make him on the same level as Shanks just like better skills doesn't Mihawk directly above Shanks. Oda clearly ain't treating Mihawk so good for long time. Puttig both Buggy and Mihawk in same crew and than comparing them with Shanks. One is proved to be a joker while other one has clear set of poor feats and portrayal previously. On the other hand Shanks is destroying both again and again in feats and portrayal. Oda is giving you all copium to remain in your delusional world again and again. What would be you guy claiming next ? Mihawk negs Kaido like Shishio posted before. Lol
First Cross Guild is considered an organization of immense threat level. So Mihawk's bounty has been affected by this as well.
Secondly If Shanks isn't that strong than we've seen two things clearly, first emperors can be at just 3B bounty, second captain/leader could have lower bounty than its commander.
Fourth, Mihawk is an old player, not a rookie who has been in limelight just 2 years ago, even with the title and notorious subordinates like Crocodile, couldn't get in 4B club.
Difference is DR Zoro got the same bounties that Luffy/Law/Kid (captains) had when they were at Sabaody. Look at the difference between getting a high bounty as a Captain & getting a high bounty not being a leader of an organization...
Now realize that Shanks is just 10% higher on the bounty scale than Mihawk lol.
Thing is, Oda confirmed Shanks is a swordsman when Brannew used his name to hype Mihawk's swordsmanship. Ergo he is weaker than Mihawk since one is the Strongest & the other isn't. And talking about how "his skill surpasses even Red-Hair's" implicitly means he's stronger, since
(1) Oda doesn't differentiate between skill/strength as per Stephen Paul (you can thank Erkan for gifting Mihawk fans this gem XDD)
There really isn't cutting corners this time bro XD. Mihawk >~ Shanks.