throughout the show, at his peak was he the most powerful man in New Jersey?

I would think so. It would also appear that he was somewhat well known to at least some of the public as a John Gotti-esque type. Like he had been on tv enough where civilians recognized him. The male shrink he went to see who told him he couldn't treat him because "I watch tv. I know who you are." Elliot knew who Tony was when Melfi was treating him too. (apparently he didn't recognize him in the parking garage though for some reason)

No. Only in sections of North Jersey. NY did business in NJ, and other families had Central and South NJ

in his peak ? yeah probably
but in season 1
i think lorenzo barese is the most powerful (even junior said that he had the biggest crew, but whether biggest means the strongest i don't know)
also the aprile crew when ralphie took over it, and then vito
they made the biggest amount of money

John Sacrimoni was more powerful than Tony until he was locked up and died. Tony was definitely powerful in Northern New Jersey in Newark and other surrounding areas once he became street boss and boss. His crews are formidable when earning and a couple are great earners, we really never learn what the other families were into, but for the time period the show was on, it would be whoever had a hold on Atlantic City, the unions, gambling, loansharking, Trenton, Camden, and southern New Jersey, will have more power than Tony. Many factors and not much information, that is why for Northern New Jersey I say Tony is powerful.

No way. Only in North Jersey and even then probably wasn’t the most powerful person.

Pussy and his FBI handler talk about Phily making moves on Tony's turf so if Phily's moving in on rackets in North Jersey you know they control South Jersey, Trenton, Camden, AC, et al.

We have to remember however that David Chase said The Sopranos are mostly based on the Boiardo crew. That's Westside. That would also explain Tony not taking shit from the Lupertazzis.

Like with all fiction however I think The Sopranos are a composite of a lot of different mob families. Part DeCavalcante (especially in season 1), part Jersey Genovese, Part Jersey Lucchese. There's bits and pieces of all of them in The Sopranos storylines.

There was the Philly mob that controlled south jersey including Camden, Trenton and Atlantic City. The casinos in AC could not have been built without the mob controlling every drop of concrete, labor unions and cocaine trafficking.