You are totally missing the point. Everyone knows that all bodybuilders think their era physiques are better but they are not talking about a judges's perspective, they are talking about the preference, 80's bodybuilders know they would get slaughtered on stage with todays bodybuilders but they still think they look better preference wise not judging wise, see the difference?.
So Ronnie is not talking about what you are referring to, he is talking from the judges perspective he would beat Phil and it is true he would from a judges perspective, all IFBB judges will confirm this as they are always stating that there will never be another Ronnie. So Ronnie is not doing what others have done before him. Unless you can show me a quote saying that someone is claiming to have been able to beat Ronnie on stage then you can not say Ronnie is doing the same thing as everyone else, it is different in everyway especially if what he is saying is true.
I don't need to show you a quote. I showed you a guy WHO ACTUALLY BEAT RONNIE on stage: Dorian Yates.
Actually, if you want to split hairs, Jay Cutler and Dexter Jackson beat Ronnie on stage, too.
But, since those two are still considered modern competitors, even though they (Dex, in particular) is in the twilight of his career, I'll stick with "old-school bodybuilders".
Furthermore, I already gave an example: The article I referenced with Franco Columbu. That was done in the mid-90s, during Ronnie's competitive years, around the time Ronnie won his first show.
As for judges' perspective, we've seen various phases of Ronnie Coleman. We've yet to see the full spectrum of Phil Heath. He hasn't even hit 30, yet.
Besides, with what 90s bodybuilder is Heath often compared? Flex Wheeler. And we all know that Ronnie and Flex had their battles in the 90s. Ronnie's first win over Flex was by one point. Flex beat him twice that same year.
I agree there will never be another Ronnie. But, then again, there will never be another Dorian, another Arnold, another Sergio, or another Lee (Haney).