Tbf, whilst I agree with you that the semantics of "best guild" is sufficiently poorly defined that a few guilds can call themselves the number 1 guild, you can't have it both ways on Echo and Method. Either Echo gets to claim Method's no. 1s as its the same team, or current Method does (if we say that the branding is more important than the team). You can't say that Method disbanded so its new Method, but also Echo is totally new. You can land either side of the fence with reasonable justification, but not take the part from both sides which is favourable to your argument.
Also, you are correct on the time-gating.