There's two general classifications relating to the "best".
The "best" in the MA environment and the "best" 1 Vs 1.
These are vastly different, because they represent vastly different environments.
In one respect, 1 Vs 1 is easier because you need only keep track of one enemy. On the other hand, the competition is much, much better than the average MA pilot. Yet, in the MA, facing a dozen average pilots is often as dangerous as facing a top tier 1 Vs 1 pilot.
IMHO, the best pilots are the ones who excel in both environments. Drex could excel at both. There are perhaps two dozen players who excel at both.
As a trainer, I get to fly hundreds of duels every month. Many of the players of reputation have come to the TA and I'm always glad to see them as they break up the routine and provide a challenge. Some trainers join the dueling ladder, others do KOTH. I don't bother with any of those as I don't feel any need to prove anything. I rarely fly in the MA (I did last night, for one sortie) these days, but let my son-in-law fly on my machine and account once in a while, but only with my supervision. He got clobbered by the 56th FG the other night and managed to auger twice in about 5 minutes. He's another reason why I never check my scores...
Generally speaking, most of the official trainers and some of the volunteer trainers are top tier pilots. Guys like Nomak, Murdr, Yucca and Infensus are as good as anyone 1 Vs 1. Visitors such as Fester, Urchin, Creton, Timppa, Stang and others drop by the TA often and provide for outstanding duels amongst themselves and the trainers. The most fun I've ever had were on nights when the TA is full of good sticks dueling and furballing. With killshooter on in the DA, the TA is now the best place for this sort of fun.
So who is the best? Honestly, does it really matter? This game should be about having fun with friends, not a winkie measuring contest. Among the more skilled players, on any given night anyone of them could win or lose. What I consider the deciding factor is attitiude. Being among the best, and yet still humble, polite and courteous, that's what establishes a guy as a great player to me. And if anyone needed an example of that kind of player, I'd simply point to Drex or Todd or Yucca or BigMax and so on.
My regards,
Widewing