Could you rewrite this sentence in plain English?

"You guys seemed to think your proposal is far and away the best, but as far as I'm concerned, it's all six of one, half-a-dozen of the other."

How about this one?

Thank you in advance.

Ken's answer: To eat steak with a fork meant for salad is not proper table etiquette. And so, your mother might show her disapproval by slapping your hand.

Another way to write this sentence:

"Eating your steak with your salad fork may provoke strong disapproval from your mother -- she might slap your hand."

A dozen is 12. Six is equal to half-a-dozen. So, "six of one, half-a-dozen of the other" means that they are the same.

Another way to write this sentence:

"You guys seemed to think your proposal is far and away the best, but as far as I'm concerned, it's just like all the others."

[2] From:Tsuboi

A nation need not necessarily be powerful.

A nation need not be necessarily powerful.

What is the difference of the two sentences, if any.

Ken's answer:I will admit that I am not sure... In this example, I can see no difference in the meaning of these sentences. So, I tried to think of another example:

A person need not perfectly be fluent.

A person need not be perfectly fluent.

In this second example, the first sentence sounds more awkward. But again, I do not think there is any difference in the meaning.

In both cases, I do think the second sentence sounds more natural:

"be necessarily powerful"

"be perfectly fluent"

Maybe someone else among our visitors is more knowledgeable about English grammar than I and will help me out. :-)