The way I read it the various circles strength was QUITE relevant; it allowed them to not only match but defeat multiple Forsaken in battle. No doubt the fact that the most experienced channelers were leading each circle helped, but the reason I think the Forsaken survived is that once they realized they were outmatched they ran. The only who didn't, of course, is also the only one who didn't survive. That the rest aren't all mindtrapped leads me to believe even the DO realizes he demanded the impossible that time.

I think Shannows main point is correct; as he says, we've seen that stronger channelers have an innately greater facility with the Power. They'll also be able to practice weaves weaker channelers may be able to form, but can't activate (and suddenly I'm thinking about how Sorilea was able to show Caddy the Traveling weave despite the fact Egwene had only recently rediscovered it, which factors into my "Is Sorilea the Darkfriend, or Bair?" theory. ) So, yeah, it's POSSIBLE a college QB will be more accurate than an NFL QB with a stronger arm, but it's hardly the rule, because the pros stronger arm has given him the chance to throw a lot more passes to a lot better receivers covered by a lot better defenders.