I think results from both are (obviously) based on how much effort you put in. In most cases the best surf guys would likely be the best boat guys if applying the same drive & skill on the other venue. And the reverse is absolutely true as well.
I think too that there is more skill required to be successful in the surf than in a boat because you don't have the same mobility, electronics, opportunity of time (daylight for example) and access.
No fishfinders in the surf other than the Mark 0 Mod 0 (Mod 1 if you have spectacles) Optical Detection Device and knowledge of how to read the environment. A skilled boat angler has both of the above plus fish finders / temp guages / charts.
Most boaters can access significantly greater locations to fish than they guy in the surf. Walk a mile to a surf spot and work a 1/4 - 1/2 mile of shoreline will encompass an entire session of fishing short of a 12hour commando run. In a boat you have the option of picking up and moving a few miles far quicker than you can on Korkers.
Most boaters can do as well (and some better) fishing daylight moving off the immediate coast of the surf angler to deeper water and humps - not available to the shore guy. Typically, the surfcaster's run is from sundown to sunup.
Very little tresspassing from a boat
I also think that the top fisherman in a boat that don't rely on electronics as much as they do the same 6th sense applied by the top guys from shore are highly skilled and would do well anywhere... Same is true that a very knowledgable shore angler than switches to boat will be able to apply different skill sets in both conditions based on experience - add well rounded skills in knowing how to bait fish / live bait fish / plug / jig / and flyfish - you have one exceptionally proficient angler...
When I grow up I want to be a proficient angler...
So in a nut shell I think it is more difficult to be a top angler from shore than a boat and that more skill is needed from shore than a boat.
However, Applying high skill in both is worthy of respect and impresses the hellout of me...