here's my view on the whole subject.
you be hard pressed to find a bigger dorian fan that me on this board. (not like a stalker/lover like hulkster is with coleman) and i've always liked ronnie. the 2003 version of ronnie was really amazing. and that might eclipse yates at his best. it might.
here's another thing to consider if they both competed against each other.
there is NO WAY that ronnie would have come in at the size in 03/04 if dorian was competiting. yates had too much conditioing and hardness. true, ronnie would have been bigger, but not SO much bigger that he would have won the show. not like a 205 lb shawn vs. a 260 lb yates, that is harder.
ronnie would have had shown up lighter to match dorians' conditioning,which has never been coleman's strong point. (glutes dont matter, that's fucking gay). coleman is known for his shape AND size. therefore, dorian would have been bigger or just as big as coleman (in order for him to match dorian's condition), but yates would still have the edge on hardness and dryness.
dorian is thicker, but coleman has more striations and lines. both have their better bodyparts.
another thing. coleman doesnt look anything near as good as yates in the side poses othre than side chest which i think dorian would win. coleman's side tri sucks as do his quarter turns. yates shows thicker development in the side poses.
from the front, each has their strong points in certain poses. and the back is almost equal. ronnie has better arms, delts equal. legs - ronnie's hams are more defined, but dorian's are fuller. calves, well..
also, the xmas tree. coleman's is damn good, but yates' is a bit better.
i give the very slight edge to dorian when you consider everything.