[FairlyInvolved]

They hold a monopoly of merit, many tried EUV and they succeeded in doing something that others were calling impossible even 5 years before they shipped it, not by shutting down competition but simply because no one else could.

The idea that ASML would somehow be more worthy of merit if Nikon/Canon also succeeded is weird.

Would the moon landing me more impressive if Russia and Japan also managed it?

[jaywalk]

Exactly correct. They're literally more deserving of credit because they've done something that to this day nobody else has been able to do.