Hard to beat the Spit as an interceptor. That's what it was built for.
The Bearcat, would eat it for lunch however....
That was built as an interceptor also but later in the war.
Being from the Iron Works means the Bearcat would never have been "best" had it fought. Look at the lack of respect the "ace maker" gets relative to the Corsair glamorpuss.
The Bearcat was never going to be pretty enough for widespread accolades.