Well, I am not a Sport Fisherman. I do not believe that fishing is a matter of competition. I fish to catch them and to become food. I can use a very fine leader/tippet or thicker ones. I use the thickest one that I could use while still maintaining optimum presentation. I can land the fish quicker with thicker leader/tippet. So I choose what would be most beneficial and merciful to the fish. So when I C&R salmon and see them continue their swim up the river, I know I am doing the right thing.
Catching a fish with very fine leader/tippet requires more care in successfully landing the fish. The fight is indeed more exciting. However, I do not value fun and excitement above the health and welfare of the fish and that of the environment.
Some people would say that it is unethical to use a thicker leader/tippet. I totally disagree.
Do what's beneficial to the fish and the environment in general. If you follow this guideline instead of self glorification then you are doing the right thing.
So it is really a matter of individual/personal choice according to what one values most.
If any or all of you want to be classified as a better or the best fishherman then I gladly concede that any of you are better fisherman than I am. In fact, it's ok with me if you say that I am the worst fisherman. You can even say that I have unethical fishing practice. I did BB for sockeye and got 10 in 5 days. For this, I was classified as a Meathead. But while sockeye fishing, I only C&R once (Long line release due to tangles). If I caught only pinks then that would be what I bring home as food. But over all, maybe my luck in catching my limits of sockeye was due to karma for my fishing philosophy.