I think the moral of the story is Beyonce has all the potential in the world, but isn't quite there yet. What she can do to get there, should be the start of a new thread.
"Halo" doesn't even sound ballad to me at all. Her best ballad, for me, is "Listen". But it's not that popular and successful. I thought a diva is known for her great ballad songs more than anything else. Beyonce just doesn't have it.
She's been pretty harmless in terms of controversy excluding the the Superbowl & her albums compete with the younger girls. I mean, you could practically substitute some Janet-related things into your paragraph about Mariah and it'd stick. Do you consider Janet a legend?
"Piece of Me" is pretty brilliant in my opinion, for its hilariously unapologetic representation of Britney Spears...and her unabashed willingness to sing about it.