"Might vs. Magic"

Of course I'm too lazy to repeat it, but I'll say it again. Popping your eyes out and yelling "I won, and screw it" is just stupid—you need to look at how they won and against whom.

I completely agree; the very fact of a mage winning speaks for itself. Whether it was indirect (for example, Van likely used Icylinn's signature spell in battles against neutrals) or direct (Cobra's Chain Lightning strike against an opponent), the mage's specialty influences the outcome.
Q.E.D., as we mathematicians say:p