Episode #0361 (27 April 2014)

[RandomGuy96]

he was clearly depicted as a good deal stronger than average, and definitely not just a regular Joe Average saiyan/Freeza thug,

Saiyans (low-class or not) are by default potentially stronger than a "regular Joe" of Freeza's forces, but Bardock was never depicted as anything more than a low-class saiyan. In fact, that may very well be the only thing consistent between the TV special and Minus.

What? No they're not.

Then why was he given a battle power of almost 10,000, and why did he easily slaughter a squad that themselves could easily slaughter low class saiyans?

[Luso Saiyan]

What? No they're not. Then why was he given a battle power of almost 10,000,

To imply that his battle power has been increasing and that he's become quite powerful, even though he's still just a low-class (which is confirmed again on that very scene).

a squad that themselves could easily slaughter low class saiyans?

With the help of Dodoria. And you don't know if it was easy or not since it happened off-screen.

[RandomGuy96]

To imply that his battle power has been increasing and that he's become quite powerful, even though he's still just a low-class (which is confirmed again on that very scene).

Which makes him not a typical low class. According to Toriyama, he shouldn't even be a low class with that level of power.

With the help of Dodoria. And you don't know if it was easy or not since it happened off-screen.

I recall there being some brief fighting between Bardock's team and those guys on-screen, and Bardock's team was getting stomped. Dodoria didn't even enter the shot until Bardock's team was already dead (except that one guy with the spiky hair). I can also pretty easily tell that they were having no trouble, since they don't have a scratch on them, are not visibly exerting any effort, and are smiling when we see them.

[Luso Saiyan]

Which makes him not a typical low class.

"Bardock is in the upper ranks as far as low-class warriors go,"

Besides, how does a power increase makes him atypical? They never question his rank, despite this.

According to Toriyama, he shouldn't even be a low class with that level of power.

Then again, Toriyama was only involved with the character designs. I think we can agree that it was just a small mistake on Toei's part.

I recall there being some brief fighting between Bardock's team and those guys on-screen, and Bardock's team was getting stomped.

No, when we first see them on Meat they are already defeated. Totapo (already injured) makes one last attack and an unknown soldier blasts him and kills him.

Dodoria didn't even enter the shot until Bardock's team was already dead (except that one guy with the spiky hair).

The shot, not the scene. It's obvious that Dodoria was there with them since it was his mission.