Terrible logic.
The heralds couldn't beat Monarch--at least not without killing themselves. Surfer could very well transmute Monarch's armor to breach it, but doesn't have Prime durability and would die in the explosion afterwards. However, Surfer depowering Prime via red sunlight doesn't carry the same consequences.
Prime should be able to take them. Despite Prime having a weakness to Red Solar Radiation, he has been able to take those attacks effectively. Captain Atom tried and nothing. There was other no name heroes that tried and nothing. SS can try doing the same, but Prime will retaliate. He isn't going to avoid SS. He'll be the first on the list. And to be realistic, he wont survive a few hits
Originally posted by galactusischere
Surfer got beat by Morg without the WOL a bit before that fight as well. And Galactus only gave Surfer a better mind-set during annihlation, no special amp.
Surfer couldn't handle amping on a portion of the sun's energies (this is after Morg beat Surfer)...whereas now he can channel the much greater energies of the Crunch. I'd say there's a marked difference in the level of his abilities and his power.