Let's take liborio Bellomo as an example.
Out on the street since 2008...14 years free in this day and age quite a run as boss.
No loud suits,camel hair coats,talking to media,firework parties.
No instagram posts our selfies and Facebook pics of his time at the shore.
Bellomo doesn't zoom around Manhattan in a black limo or throw street parties in the old neighborhood.

14 years on the street not a sniff of an indictment or investigation.
Bodies aren't lying in the street across NY and yet he is the most respected leader of the most powerful crime family in the u.s.

So yes I would say he took one short look at both Gotti and Merlino and has done the complete opposite.
I will give credit to Merlino for being boss as long as he has while still serving some time. But look at who he met with from the Genovese in most recent indictment.
Pasquale parello and Eugene D'Onofrio a capo and acting capo.

Not Bellomo,muscarella,Peter dichiara, Ragusa.
Merlino is a heat score and Bellomo wouldn't be caught dead meeting with him.

As for Gotti I won't speak ill of the dead.