I can't deny he admitted inferiority to Orochimaru. But it was because he was far beyond his prime. Enma called him miserable. It was said if Hiruzen was a decade younger, Orochimaru wouldn't dare attack the village.
Hiruzen sniffed himself out of Hashirama's genjutsu, without external assistance. He is the only character in the series to seal multiple targets with RDS. Enma is a very viable counter to wood release. He engaged the two Senju brothers in taijutsu and managed to use an explosive tag feint on them (a speed/agility feat; even Orochimaru hadn't noticed)
Without Hiruzen's actions that day, who's to say Orichimaru wouldn't have transferred his soul into Sasuke at the end of Part 1? What if Kabuto had managed to revive Hashi and Tobirama at the beginning of the war and properly control them? The K11 and Jounin senseis were inspired by his death to get stronger! Jiraiya and Tsunade came out of hiding to protect their village.
Like it or not, Hiruzen's death was the most impactful event in Part 1, and even pushed the events of part 2.
I'm not judging Hiruzen in strength. Unfortunately, some of the Naruto fandom are those who take things face value, without reading in between the lines and making connections.
The databook implies that had Hiruzen been 10 years younger, he would have been able to successfully RDS Orochimaru rather than having to settle for Orochimaru's arm like he did in canon. That wouldn't change the circumstances of the fight; Hiruzen would still be overwhelmed. Worst-case-scenario for Hiruzen, Orochimaru would have actually put his Edos to use rather than having them toy with him and take turns on him. Hiruzen would have died at that point, as would Jiraiya later on. You simply don't let Hashirama and Tobirama access some of their power.
You do realize that the weakened versions of the Shodai and Nidaime Hokage
stood still the whole time Orochimaru and Hiruzen engaged in their kenjutsu battle, and that when they did fight, they
took turns? They were even stated to be
toying with him. I think you don't understand the desperate situation Hiruzen was in, the weakened versions of his predecessors being used to mock him to please Orochimaru's sadism. This is why he
needed to use RDS, there was simply no other way for him to win.
Don't even bring up Hashirama and Hiruzen, the power difference between the two is a joke. Enma's not saving Hiruzen from a Sage Mode enhanced Flower Tree World. Nor would Enma save him from shinsuusenju.
Whether you like it or not, this
is a thread about his strength. I know full well about his character, his flaws included; you need not educate me on such things.
I understand that Tsunade can endure a lot with her medical ninjutsu, she is a worthy opponent but she has no projectile based ninjutsu, a close up fight with Hiruzen and his Staff is risky. Even with her regenerative abilities she is going to run out of chakra quickly from Hiruzens projectile based ninjutsu and they will wear her off quickly, constantly need to heal and running out of chakra she will begin to rely on her sluggish self as she showed us when she was fighting Madara with the 4 other Kage. With the her inability to evade attacks from a man who admits that Taijutsu is not his specialty what makes you think she will evade Hiruzens long distance jutsu with her sluggish speed. Not only has Hiruzen fought momentarily with two Hokage in Taijutsu combat and proved a worthy opponent but he successfully countered most of their attacks when being out maned (or however you spell it)
Tsunade? Run out of chakra? Before Old Hiruzen does? Your argument is flawed from the start. She would force him to use ninjutsu as he would know to avoid taijutsu with Tsunade
at all costs and as he uses ninjutsu
he will be the one who runs out of chakra. When he runs out of chakra, she can easily take this opportunity to close in on him and he won't be able to do anything about it (maybe dodge a few initial hits) when she hits his diaphragm. On the argument about the two weakened Hokage, read the above. By feats, Tobirama's clone is above them.
Don't go on saying that Old Hiruzen can wear Tsunade out.