People still cling to the idea that Shanks is stronger, has to be stronger, than Mihawk.
They are under the impression that Shanks will be some sort of final villain or the highest bar someone can reach.
Neither is true.
Shanks is not just weaker than Mihawk, he is also weaker than other top tiers.
Shanks is not the final villain of the story. He will undoubtedly be weaker than the final villain.
Even by invalidating swordsmenship you can not change the fact that Shanks is a runners up for everything.
Swordsmanship. Haki. Overall power. No matter.
And the bum knows it too. He gave away the Straw Hat willingly because he know deep down inside that hes not HIM.
Well, they are a funny bunch to say the least... I think this is a sign of panic.
They are jumping from a straw to a straw on a weekly basis. They are not sure which straw will remain above water and which will sink...
Plot twist - all straws are sinking.
First they were clinging onto Roger, the PK is strongest but then that house of cards started falling apart.
Shanks was always up there, some rate him below Roger, the other understand that he is present-day Roger so a strong straw at first glance... But then they realize no way Shanks will fare well against Imu so they are latching onto Joyboy.
Joyboy being just another Roger, a dead figure of the past is not that appealing straw to grab onto so they jump onto Blackbeard.
But then they remember that hakimen rule supreme and outright cancel DF abilities so they are back to the straw called Shanks...
Bottom line, all their straws are too weak and destined to sink so this panic is understandable.
The time works for one man - Mihawk.
The one who forged the strongest weapon in the world and Shanks, Roger, Joyboy, Imu, Blackbeard are not the ones who are fated to dethrone him. They delude themselves that Mihawk is just Vista's rival and not a guy who is bored because nobody can beat him...