Hm, I don't know. I would personally consider the two comments to be effectively equivalent as they both tell her the same thing (Applebloom doing a lot of this inadequately) while also withholding information on just what is lacking. How Sugarcoat went about it could be different, but that doesn't mandate the should. If I were on the receiving end, and I also did not know Applejack (which would be the actual important difference in context if you ask me, that Applebloom is Applejack's sister), then I'd actually perceive AJ's comments as being patronizing, or being filled with platitudes... that is, sugarcoating the critique. Sugarcoat was decent enough to let me know in the stark beauty of brutal truths - she really doesn't like the picture. That's the part I always liked best about Sugarcoat. That I thought the picture was really nice on my own is and should be irrelevant. Although it is nice if Sugarcoat would be kind with her words, that niceness becomes a falsehood as soon as it is not backed up with actual intent to be kind, which Sugarcoat obviously doesn't have here. A false kindness is the some of the worst betrayals Sugarcoat would be able to inflict upon Applebloom, if you ask me.