I do think Ayumi is overrated. A lot of people seem to think that if you criticize your favorite artist, then you're a bad fan. In fact, I think if you like her despite her faults, you are a true fan. I think it's important to see past the glitz of Ayumi's (sometimes) flashy costumes and admit that her singing is really not the best. Also, I kinda think Ayumi wins a lot of awards in Japan because she is popular (it's more about popularity than merit). Once Japanese fans find a new singer to attach themselves to, Ayumi's popularity will surely decline.