Without your cartoons to remind us of what we're all shooting for as young artists, I fear Newgrounds would be a duller place. Even the naysayers know it; they're venting because they hate knowing they stand little chance against the work that you have set your mind and life to.
Unless you're submitting content that you did FOR Disney and under Disney's explicit supervision, then you've got nothing to defend yourself from, my friend. The playing field here is completely even. You have no advantages other than what you yourself are capable of.
They separate boxers into divisions based on physical attribute, not skill. NO ONE should be discounted from a competition based on level of skill, because then it ceases to be a competition. That's called "rigging". So unless you're taking Flash steroids, or you've got a Cintiq in place of your left hand, then I fear we're all playing the same game, and next time everyone will have to try just a little bit harder to take you on.
I'm done with the sports analogies - congrats Adam! And expect stiff competition next year you son of a gun :D
RubberNinja
What exactly did you focus on whilst improving your artistic skills? Anatomy? Landscapes? Everything? Did you use reference/model sheets? I must know :(
chluaid
My first real push to get serious was learning human and animal anatomy. I had a love of technical drawing at school so I've always been quite passionate about perspective too, so I guess those are my two big recommendations. Anatomy (human and animal) and perspective. These are building blocks for pretty much any scene, illustrated or animated. Of course I'd recommend lighting effects and colour as the next two :D