I do think it is easier (overall, not necessarily in an individual region) to advance in cider and mead, but once at the Finals I think it gets really hard there. There's just a small subset of really really good people making those styles. I'm a GM; judging trads and melomel in Finals was full of amazing entries while light lager, amber lager, English brown, were surprisingly full of highly mediocre or extremely green beer. On personal note, all 10 ciders and meads I've ever entered have advanced. 0/7 medals, 3 to go...beer I've got 3 medals in 4 advancing from 12 entries. *shrug* YMMV but that's my opinion as an "experienced judge"
Cheers--
--Michael