I think that Merlino was only lucky.
In the Scarfo fall he tried to kill his son but nicky jr fled and there are no retailation; Stanfa decide to made merlino and his young turks for avoid the war but merlino won the war with the tought sicilian Stanfa despite 20 and more attempt to kill him.
Joey made ralph natale front boss that flips but merlino save himself again but with lumio that flip on drug trafficking with the patriarcas joey go to jail but beat a racketeering case and in 2011 go out.
While in prison his acting boss Ligambi rebuild the family.
Now is the youngest boss on the streets.
What do you think ? Lucky or smart ?