1 This is good. I'd have despaired for the world if Yui had won.

Taiga's a good refinement of the character concept - not quite a full-on Louise, and the violence (rarely directed at Ryuji, who is more than a match for Taiga anyway) is much more in line with the rest of her personality. Not a loli, just a shrimp, too. Cute though not sexy. Show was better'n average for the genre.

Wow, loved the video at the link. I haven't listened to that Slayers song in so long!

2 I'd take Taiga over Louise any day, but if you're scoring purely for moeness, Yui is head and shoulders above Taiga.

But then there's Ui and Azu-nyan and Mio...  And the entire casts of Hidamari Sketch and Ichigo Mashimaro...