Yep Shawk is just TERRIBLE in the DA, granted your right on the theory - higher ranked tends to be less skilled however - look at the fighter rank to determine the better pilot. someone with 40 K/D ratio is likely to hit and run, someone with 2.5 k/d more likely to dogfight, or 0.50 k/d could be a base defender.
For the long story of AH it were different "high ranked" pilots, for example Mitsu or Fester were #1 for some tours (though normally skillful dogfighter tires of scoreplaying very fast).
Normally high rank means that this pilot is motivated to go top, knows score system very good, has lot of playing time, good all around experience in AH, and big ego.
(I also was #1 for many tours many years ago, so I know about that ego thing -))
I have nothing against score playing btw. Any form of playing is fine, while people can take it easy when they fail in anything.