Dark Qiviut

Its not worse than Fluttershy leans in, objectively speaking. For you it might be worse, but you forgot one thing. Just because she values hard work, doesn't mean she thinks everything is hard work. To her it might as well have been people doodling with crayons, she just didn't get the point and to be fair she is busy working alot of the time how would she know any better? Like how old fashioned people might criticize professional gamers as wasting their time, even if they value hard work, it doesn't mean it seems like hard work to them. It depends on subject matter and context.

Like if someone made a YTP that was extremely cancerous and offensive, but it took them 80 hours to make, just because they worked hard on it, does that mean AJ, or anybody should automatically respect it? Its the same thing, she just didn't see the point. So if you dislike the episode, because of your misunderstanding of AJ, well, what can I say about that.

@CuriUndersXeno

The biggest problem with Leans In is its thin, one-sided conflict, but it also did a lot right. Its characterization, for example, is pretty decent. Even with how thin the conflict is, the story's at least competent. At worst, it's an average-quality episode.

In Honest Apple, almost nothing makes sense.

1. The conflict makes no sense. Rarity had no plausible reason to suddenly invite AJ, who has no knowledge of fashion or design, on a whim and without a backup plan. She runs three boutiques; she should've asked the judges before even daring to plan the event, much less schedule one.
2. Applejack is a complete asshole here; her actions are well beyond anything she'd do to anyone. It's one thing to be honest. It's another to be emotionally demeaning and physically destroy someone's hard work without care. You could potentially mold in a lesson about tact in season one or two if you write it well, yet she has over six seasons of character growth. It makes no sense for her to finally learn about tact that deep into the show. Applejack's characterization is atrocious.

Thinking about it, I see what you mean. Like one episode a season or two back she helped Rarity and the others put together a fashion joint for Rarity. Granted we didn't see her internalized dialogue, for all we know she was doing it just to help Rarity because they are friends. But here she was dealing with strangers. I am not fully sold to your idea, but I see what you mean now. But I would need more context specific comparisons. And aside from those two points I think the episode did have its merits.