I guess what it comes down to for me is that a being without any inherent ranged powers, whose power is based solely on physical strength, should be able to have more raw power potential than a being who uses ranged powers to affect the world. A bruiser should be able to lift more than a telekinetic, for instance. Otherwise there's no point to the bruiser, and the telekinetic will stomp him every time. When a character's sole ranged capability relies on tossing the environment at his foes, he has to be able to have some other advantage over his ranged-powers competition in order to make up for that.