It does show how misinformed some people are. Why would anyone think any of the three smaller New York families are the most powerful now? One could forgive those who might think the Gambinos are, even though they are also wrong.

From the early days of the Mafia to the present, the Genovese family has always been the wealthiest and most powerful Mafia group in the nation. They have always controlled the largest gambling and loansharking operations in the New York/New Jersey area. They have always had the most influence in labor unions and legitimate industries. And for years they represented many of the smaller east coast families on the Commission.

The Gambinos simply rivaled the Genovese in some respects, as well as slightly surpassed them in overall size, during the 1970's and 1980's but never replaced the Genovese as the top family.