Yeah it's not like there were cards like chalice or book of moon that made cyber slash useless or even prevented her from getting summoned if you used them disrupt
Those cards have a chance to be negater/countered in some way. Tributing is the strongest removal because you can't activate 🔥 during a tribute. So no, they are not better just different. This is the reason Kaiju cards are very good in the TCG. Santa Claws is a weaker kaiju but still, the tribute effect is not something you should underestimate.
I said every NOT quick play, ofc i know about quck plays. Ofc Santa claws is better if you go second, but honeslty going first in this game is always worse.