[Xietor]

Well,

you have to take the endgame with a grain of salt. EA Oceania was a major power, but got double teamed by la ermor and la ryleh. I mean no nation could withstand that.

Then Baalz, as la mictlan got special attention from la ryleh, who by that time was wishing 5 times per turn. again, what nation could withstand that?

So I think it is a mistake to look at the endgame to see how the nations fared. Any nation singled out by la ryleh or la ermor(and his unholy alliance) was likely not long for the world. Except of course, the resilient Lizards.