I think the issue is with the words “Major Storm”.
Sandy peaked at a Cat 3, Ike peaked at a 4, but both made landfall at a Cat 2.
Splitting hairs. Both were devastating storms.
It's tough to find a land based station that measured Sandy at hurricane force at all. Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, but the highest winds at Atlantic City were only 55 m.p.h. I think that is why it is referred to as Superstorm Sandy instead of Hurricane Sandy. "Tropical Storm Sandy" just didn't have the impact the media wanted.
(I know the NHC reported that Sandy made landfall in New Jersey with 80 m.p.h. winds. My point is that no land based station in New Jersey recorded hurricane force winds at all.)