Just like the word Japanese use for mortal is also the same word for human. Zamasu called all species Nigen. Were they human? No. In episode 100 Kale was called a human punching bag. Is she human? No. Its a language and context we dont understand. So when Akira or anyone is asked straight up is Tien Earthling they say no or dont give a straight answer. Because the word has many meanings. The word directly translates to "terrestial human". Which Tien is not. By every standard 17 and 18 are Earthlings. But we put them in a sub category. For the Japanese that see Tien as a decendant or Aliens or associated with the god erlong-shen then hes in a sub category. Hell the Daizenshuu has a pie chart of different types of Earthlings. And Gohans in there.
After all the build up. Being first eliminated means a whole lot. For anyone. Because Akira is like who should I choose and he picks Krillin. If the story was flipped no one would be using the excuse being eliminated first doesnt mean anything.
You labelled power levels. So in a court you would have to prove that Krillin did surpass Tien. So lets run down when they came back to life after Namek.
Android saga/Cell saga:
Krillin-has no impact in the story combat wise. Multiple occasions cowers away. And is mostly a errand boy. Is first to fall to a Cell jr.
Tien- Goku sends Krillin away and keeps Tien against android 19 and 20. Tien shows bravery in trying to fight 17 ans 18. Tien holds off 2nd form Cell using Ki blast that were more powerful than anything Piccolo or 16 could do at the time. Even in the manga Tien is shown standing taking shots from Cell jrs. In Anime filler Tien leads Yamcha and Krillin to help Gohan. Cell blows away the fighters from weakest to strongest order. Yamcha,Krillin,Tien,Piccolo.
Buu saga:
Krillin- Has a lot of screen time and dialogue but has retired from training. And does nothing of impact combat or story wise.
Tien-His presence is brief. He used that time to save pivitol characters that would be key in the final fight. He deflected a blast from a being with a SS3 super sayain and Piccolo absorbed. All on top of his own power. Tien still came and stood face to face with him.
BOG:
Krillin-Hasnt trained in 11 years and while everyone takes their shot in stoping thr God of Destruction Beerus. He in both move and series telling does nothing.
Tien-Bravely even after seeing Buu and Gotenks knocked down goes after Beerus.
ROF:
Krillin-Does kick ass but in the movie gets overwhelmed and needs saving by Gohan. In the series is frozen struck and needed to be saved by Tien.
Tien- In both movie and series he completely dominates his assigned soilders, never needing help or struggles. Also again saves Krillin from a sneak attack.
TOP:
Krillin-Gets a good show in Goku recruiting and has a hand in eliminating 3 opponents. But if first eliminated from U7.
Tien-Bad showing in thw recruitment arc. But under vastlt different circumstances. Has eliminated one opponent, had effective attacks like the Taioken. Has survived Kales attack, Ribrianes hypnosis. And is currently on his own with no end anytime soon.
So I dont know about you. But each arc you cant point to anything Krillin does that says he surpased Tien. While the author give Tien meaningful comb roles. The same has not been the same for Krillin.
But this will just end up in a back and forth of that sentence and the vague meaning to whom it may apply to. What a person who believes Tien is stronger have, is they have the satisfaction of seeing him in action and more impactful displays. You can tune into Super each week for the next month and see him. While Krillin is on the bench.
You are going to do everything in order to prove that Tien>>>Kuririn, despite the fact that Tien was thrown aside after Saiyan Saga? I am reading your posts for quite a while and it is quite amusing, especially pointing Tien as "Alien" where it is nowhere stated that he is. However, if you want to keep this, alien thingy still going (despite the fact, that Tien is listed as earthling by author of the show itself), then Kuririn is alien to (lack of nose). Coming back to the topic though, a few points.
1. It is interesting, that you try to show that Tien>Kuririn by ommiting all sagas before Imperfect Cell saga. Interesting, judging by the fact, that in Saiyan Saga, Tien only "feat" was losing a hand in fight in Nappa, then dying, while Kuririn was tangling with them. You also ommited that Tien was death during Namek Saga, while Kuririn was on frontlines.
2. Gohan was also send back away while he is clearly stronger than all humans. So quite weird argument here.
3. Are you trying to suggest that Kikoho in raw power>>>Android 16>>Piccolo=C17? If it is so, then Tien is quite an ass, for not using it against androids and thus ending the saga. Kikoho accomplished nothing and if you want to suggest that it has so much raw power, to damage Semi-Perfect Cell, then explain why Tien didn't kill androids with it.
4. This argument with Cell Jr's is also quite weird. First of all, both humans were put down quickly not able to defend themselves against Cell Jr.
5. If you want to use anime fillers then give up. They literaly mean nothing. However, if you really insist to do so, then you have a problem, because frankly, fillers put Kuririn in higher position than Tien. Example: He being a last hope of earth if Goku and Vegeta will be death (Buu Saga), or him tangling with Garlic Jr during Garlic Jr Saga filler. Not to mention Kuririn tangling with Imperfect Cell in filler.
6. Kuririn retired from fighting (was it ever stated that he is not trying? He is an martial artist, he will still keep in shape)
7. While people tend to use Cell/Buu argument as a prove of Tien strenght. He deflected a weak ki blast aimed and Satan and Dende and he still used Kikoho to do so, then he was kicked out cold. Not to much of a feat if you ask me.
8. Gohan asked Kuririn to move others to safety. He done his task, while Tien, was knocked out cold
9. I know that you want to show Tien bravery. I cannot deny that fact. However in each of instances of his bravery he acomplishes little to nothing. Nappa ragdolled him, C17 knocked him out easily, he stopped Semi-Perfect Cell true, still against Buu he also acomplished nothing. The same against Berrus, when he was put down by a simple throw. His courage usually equals with his downfall.
10. Tien used Kikoho against soldiers. Both Kuririn and Tien easily defated their adversaries.
11. Tien has awesome technique called Taiyoken known by Goku and Kuririn and improved by Kuririn himself. Kuririn in this tournament do a lot, but saving his wife was his downfall. Tien and Roshi eliminated one guy. Still lot of a work for them, to catch up to him.
I can understand, that you are big fan of Tien. However more and more in your posts I can see, that you try to modify the reality of certain statements, feats, actions etc. in order to fit into your image. You try to point out that Tien was more important by showing sagas in which he did something, "forgetting" about sagas when Kuririn was a key player of the team. You put up fillers with Tien, forgetting many fillers in which Kuririn was shown as a capable fighter (believe me, there were many instances). You try to use argument that Tien>Kuririn do the fact that Kuririn was already eliminated but this argument is biased due to the fact that:
Basil, Bergamo, Lavenda, (one of magical girls), half of pride troppers were eliminated. Unless you want to tell me that Tien>Trio of Dangers, pride troppers and other eliminated guys, then this argument is invalid.
Still I want to give you a chance. Tell me, or give me a proof in what way, Tien was able to catch to Kuririn after the Saiyan Saga. Remember that Tien died with a power level of less than 2000 while Kuririn in a few days on Namek, jumped from 1800, to 13000, to about 30 000 (Ginyu Fight) and then at least 100 000 - 200 000 in order to be help against Frieza. How Tien catched up to that (Remember, that the series already proven that mountain training means nothing in context of gains - Though super tends to change that). Thus until authors are not going to provide me with direct statement (or fight between both characters), then I am never going to believe that Tien>Kuririn. Quick question to the community, though. While people like Tien so much? He is literally, boring character.