I think it is very debatable that in the mid 70's French components like the Simplex line provided the best available component choices for their top of the line. Obviously their low level stuff was about the absolute worst ever made. I have owned a couple of the upper level French components from those years and their finish levels were definitely below Campagnolo of the same time (even if the function might have been similar or better). In my opinion the Campy stuff from those years were about as pretty and about as functional as stuff ever gets (with the one exception of their rear derrailleur).
In the early 80's I would give the nod to Suntour. It's not only my opinion but it was the opinion of many bike manufacturers who spec's Suntour Superbe and Cyclone when they absolutely had to have the best. Most Italian manufacturers spec'd Campy and as a result, racers who were forced to use it suffered a disadvantage.
In the Mid 80's I would also have to give the prize to Suntour, as Shimano still trailed in terms of quality and design and Campy was suffering from brain fog. Last month I had an entire Zeus 2000 grouppo in my position. I didn't ride it but I did examine it. (The bike it was on was frame damaged, so I stripped the bike for parts. The Zeus stuff looked like Campy want to be. If the Zeus functioned better than the Campy, I still would have to give it to Campy for originality, having actually dreamed this stuff and not having copied it from someone else. Whoever of the two was better, neither one was on the level of Suntour, so Suntour gets first position again. If it were just limited to brake function, Modolo innovations and attention to detail would win them the prize.
Nowadays, for OT bike components, Campy wins out. Shimano is so good and Campy is that good plus an almost indescribable something that Campy has never lost.... style, flair, repairability, and giving the racer what he wants ( a better hand position, more cogs per swipe, quick release on the brake levers. The Italians listen to the racers better, but the Japanese are better at dictating to the masses. That hasn't changed in 25 years.)
Garth Libre in Miami Fl USA