MHY: “The ikkar yishuv of Ashkenazic Jewry, the spiritual center, was in Germany. That is where Rabbeinu Gershom Meor hagolah and those who followed after him were”
Actually in the times of Rashi and the Baalei Tosafos there were more people and Talmidei Chachomim in France.
“Eastern Europe five hundred years ago was still shvach compared to what developed there later. By the way, can you name one rishon from Poland?”
500 years ago was NOT the Rishonim. Frankly I am shocked at your condescending tone toward the communities of Eastern Europe in the 1500’s that gave rise to the Rema, Levush, Bach, Sma, Maharam Lublin, Maharsha, Maharal, Shela HaKadosh etc
“In Ashkenaz they kept the old minhogim better.”
Dream on.
“The Rashba lived a long time before R. Yitzchak Karo”
My point exactly. The original minhag in Sefarad was NOT to wear tefillin, long before the Zohar was even discovered.
The bottom line is it is impossible to determine that one set of minhagim is “superior” to the others, and each individual should continue following his minhag avos unless it conflicts with minhag hamakom.