Wow, I'm on another board! I feel like the Beyonder in a new universe.
Seems to come down to this:
The Phoenix Force is the energies of creation. That's cool, I can accept that. But that equates the Phoenix Force less with sentient beings and more with energy sources like the Power Cosmic, the Power Primordial, Odinpower, Oan energy, Source energy and Magic.
If that's the case, and that's the only logical way to reconcile GS's unholy mess, then making Galactus vs. Phoenix Force threads are really as illogical as making Celestials vs. Power Cosmic threads. The Power Cosmic doesn't fight - it doesn't make decisions. It simply...is.
While the Force itself is simply an energy source, as proven by that issue of FF, there are beings who embody or represent the Phoenix Force. These are the avatars. Jean is an avatar, and perhaps even more than that. She is one with the Force, she's the embodiment of the Force...but she's NOT the Phoenix Force. If she were, she'd be omniscient...and she's not. She'd be omnipresent - she's not. he had to die in one timeline to be re-born in the future - she couldn't be in two places at once. She'd be omnipotent...and she's not. She was attacked and hurt, even in Here Comes Tomorrow. She was weakened in Endsong and needed energy. Since when do omnipotent beings, aspects of GOD, need to suck energy from optic blasts to retain its power? She wouldn't have to be told what to do by other Phoenix Avatars. She wouldn't have to listen to the mysterious "they" who told her she can't stay. She would have been able to fix the M'Kraan Crystal on her own. If she were THE Phoenix Force as GS is making it out to be, she wouldn't have any of those limitations. But she does have those limitations, and GS can't weasel his way out of them. She has those limitations because she's clearly NOT the Phoenix Force...she's simply an avatar, with perhaps a unique bond with the Force, and access to its full power.
That said, she's still a human, and her mastery and control is NOT absolute, nor is her wisdom. She's has total access to the Phoenix Force the way Galactus has total access to the Power Cosmic, the way the Elders have total access to the Power Primordial, the way the Guardians have total access to Oan power. That's extremely impressive, but it doesn't mean she's undefeatable.
Let's look at her fight with Galactus - her lack of knowledge about her true nature was shown. If she were THE Phoenix Force, she would have already known that she feeds on potential life. She doesn't, because she's not the Phoenix Force...she's a chick accessing power she doesn't really understand. She freaked out when Galactus told her the truth. Did she beat Galactus? Yes...but that's because her supply of energy is greater than his. It proves that the Phoenix Force is a less exaustible source of energy than the Power Cosmic, because it comes from potential life, whereas the Power Cosmic comes from existing life undone. Seems simple enough.
So...what does all of this mean? It means that JEAN GREY is more than capable of defeat, and you can use every showing, good and bad, to bolster a case for or against her. You can NOT use the role of the Phoenix Force to show that JEAN can beat anybody any more than you can use Galactus' feats with the Power Cosmic to show what Firelord could do. You can use it to show that the power of the Phoenix Force is limitless, but you can't just say, "Oh, Jean can blink everybody, including LT, out of existence because the PF is the primal force of creation". The PF IS the primal force of creation...Jean Grey is not.
And for the final time Jean Grey is NOT the Phoenix Force. She's an avatar. Just like all the rest of us will be one day.
Therefore Jean Grey is solidly below any and all abstracts, and possibly even Celestials. A lofty place to be, to be sure. GS should be proud. He also shouldn't overreach. 😛