If someone is going to shoot in black and white, most of it is about the tonality achieved. It is really difficult to say much looking at the images on a color monitor. Ansel Adams looks pretty ordinary over the Internet. You have to see one of his actual prints with your naked eyes to realize the mastery.
I studied the zone sys and from what i saw he’s OK
I saw an exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and know what you mean about his technical mastery. Though I have to admit that I did stifle more than one yawn.