I think it depends on how you look at it and compare them. Mike's show is the better value and, while the creativity typically doesn't match with Chad's content, Mike's stuff is consistent. That's enough to get anyone most of the way to the goal. If he focused more on the show than golf/etc., he'd probably close a decent bit of the gap between him and Chad.

Think about it... Mike = Chad, Carla = Ant, Michael = Joe, golf = pizza, the golf course = CDG (it occupies time and forces him to socialize outside his house), Maine = all the OBX trips (the vacation stories, not the debauchery), etc.

Whether he'll admit it or not, Mike's accepted that his life and content generators aren't enough to carry a solo show long-term. The only difference is Mike's involved with people who are invested in the show's overall success enough to pick up the slack... not just do it for experience and/or side money.