more prone to violence it doesn't mean more powerful
In the streets and in prison --- where it really matters, yeah it does. Felonies is right Detroit is probably going to be the first LCN family to be exinct, maybe after KC, but definitely up there. I like to think of myself as being honest with myself as to the state of the American mafia, maybe albeit a little to hopeful, naive, about the stability of the remaining families. But even if a rival crew of Nove Tocco (who's a snitch) tried to manipulate them into killing the head of a powerful biker gang; you really think there wouldn't be a far more brutal revenge on those wiseguys? Detroit may have some thick necked soldiers --- a handful, if that. But the Outlaws have literally hundreds, and whos far more down to Uzi some guys house or kill multiple enemies, instead of one good hit? Shit, when was Detroits last "hit", 2002?
The ablility to be physically violent goes a long way in prison and on the streets. While a typical mob boss has a lot of overall power due to his position, he would more than likely need protection from guys who had less overall power but more immediate, in-your-face, physical power, especially in prison. Which makes a mob boss' power sort of perverse. It's like he has a lot of power but he doesn't!
See John Gotti and his prison altercation for an example.
