the OP has to be one of the most pathethic ZOMG NERF whines I've seen, and after WoW forums that says a lot.
you rail at him being such a badass while "not different from other Teblor!" while you've got nothing against people like Mok, like Dassem Ultor, like Brys Beddict, like Trull Sengar. like Anomander Rake.
recall Paran talking about ascending being an attribute of will. a normal person punches, and will break someone's nose. an Ascendant punches, and a castle wall goes down. it's in the purest here. also, remember, as Ublala noted, that Karsa is of rather exceptionally pure Toblakai blood, and what do we actually know about Toblakai?
you're also forgetting proper matching. make a dragon grab him and throw down into a pool of lava and he's not coming out. a squad of Malazan sappers and he'd be Ranalled all over the place. his confidence comes from knowing, what is to be done, and what he's capable of. how does he know? well, it's not stated. which doesn't mean he doesn't have gods whispering in his ear.
further, about Quick Ben. I liked Hedge's question about how much longer the 11 extra souls plan on hiding inside him. he's a vessel of their power, remember that. furthermore, what makes him really dangerous is his wits. recall his fight with the Sisters, he didn't rock their charge with straight force, he just lifted the earth to meet it, just as easy as he dug a hole under Kallor in MoI. he's smart, he's mean, and now (surprisingly!) even more powerful than before (ain't you wondering why? no cos you're a mage fanboy)
one thing I sorely missed in RG was extensive passages involving Karsa and Samar Dev. it's one of the most interesting characters in the series, along with Paran, Fiddler and Rhulad.
also,
Quote
If Karsa continues to evolve from his current neanderthal outlook on life, into something that passes for a decent person that isn't prone to filleting a haplass guard because he "looked at me funny" then yeah, I might end up liking him more
I assume you hate the Seguleh just as much then?
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.