There's a need to denigrate certain composers
Yes! It's a straw-man argument, which runs like this:
1) I like composer X
2) So if I insult composer Y
3) then composer X will shine more brightly by comparison
??? ??? ???
Crazy, I know - but there are quite a few fans of 'unfairly negelected' composers who think there is some grudge-match to be 'won'? ::)
"If we all write to the BBC to say Berlioz is rubbish, they are certain to broadcast 'The Tigers' instead of 'The Trojans' in the Proms!" etc....
I am sorry to say that there is even a whole classical music website which works on this basis. All other composers are assaulted, belittled or rubbished, in the hope that Handel will appear to be a 'greater' composer than he already is...