Individual Power.
If you are strong enough you can always find crews that can serve you, as CP0 said, beating Kaido's subordinates wouldn't change the outcome without beating Kaido.
Same as Franky saying Lucci would kill every other SH Pirate if not for Luffy fighting him, so all of their Ws would be pointless if Lucci won, he would kill the rest.
Ryokugyu also said he wouldn't come to Wano because of Kaido, not because of Kaido's crew or Samurai like Red Dog made excuse to not send Kizaru.
Then the crews are the 2nd most important. Teach searched for the Darkness DF first, then searched a strong crew second.
Get ready to cry.