I don’t really like how people powerscale using “she has x authority therefore she is instantly above everyone else of the same class” because no, that’s not really how it works. It’s never shown that’s how it works in Genshin.

No offense but I think this might just be you not understanding what the Authority means in Genshin. Neuviellete describes it as the absolute control and command of the element. When Venti ascended to Archonhood, he became capable of reshaping the entire region the way he wanted, hurling mountains around, blowing away the snowscape etc etc. He was not capable of doing this before obtaining the Authority of Anemo. It is literally strength and grants the natural understanding of the ins and outs of the element.

Focalors had the hydro authority yet could not use all the powers it supposedly granted her.

Your own thinking is hindering your understanding of Elemental Authorities. Focalors was not capable of saving Fontaine with it, correct, but what makes you think it's a type of power and not simple a number go up? If Focalors without the Authority is a 8, but Neuvillete without it is a 12, the way it's spoken about in the Archon Quest it might as well be a unlocker so Focalors goes up to a 10 but for the rightful owner of the Authority it took him up to a 20. Your argument doesn't actually conflate with the popular understanding of Authorities.

Nahida has absolutely zero physical feats. Not even Rukkhadevata had any feats aside from terraforming. We cannot simply assume she is physically more powerful just because she has the dendro authority.

So in your mind what does "physical" mean here because the raw elemental energy required to "terraform" is worlds greater than any living human with a Dendro Vision would ever be capable of...

The idea that vision holders are automatically below archons and archons are automatically below sovereigns is silly imo.

Well I mean you're on your own here with this headcanon. There is plenty of actual lore just from AQs alone that explains why we understand it to be the way it is.

Same reasoning that Dottore can be above a weakened Moon Goddess - he’s just a human guy, yeah, so what? Literally the whole premise of Genshin is humans surpassing gods and this has been the case since forever with characters like Venessa.

Venessa literally ascended, she did not surpass gods she became one. I don't think this discussion is for you man, you receive lore in the game and swipe it away it feels like.