Salaam.
I agree with the position that Imam Ali (a.s) was being humble in not preferring himself to others. All Muslims believe that our Prophet - Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.w.) to be the Leader of All Prophets (a.s) and to be superior to all Prophets (a.s) but Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.w) said following about himself (s.a.w.w) regarding Superiority:
01. Prophet Yunus (a.s)
Sahih Bukhari
Volume 6, Book 60, Number 127:
Narrated Abdullah:
The Prophet said, "None has the right to say that I am better than Jonah bin Matta."
Sahih Bukhari
Volume 6, Book 60, Number 128:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Whoever says that I am better than Jonah bin Matta, is a liar."
02. Prophet Musa (a.s)
Sahih Bukhari
Hadith no: 601
Narrated / Authority of: Abu Huraira
Two persons, a Muslim and a Jew, quarrelled. The Muslim said, "By Him Who gave Muhammad superiority over all the people! The Jew said, "By Him Who gave Moses superiority over all the people!" At that the Muslim raised his hand and slapped the Jew on the face. The Jew went to the Prophet (SAW) and informed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. The Prophet (SAW) sent for the Muslim and asked him about it. The Muslim informed him of the event. The Prophet (SAW) said, "Do not give me superiority over Moses, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be one of them, but I will. be the first to gain consciousness, and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne (of Allah). I will not know whether (Moses) has also fallen unconscious and got up before me, or Allah has exempted him from that stroke."
Sahih Bukhari
Hadith no: 602
Narrated / Authority of: Abu Said Al-Khudri
While Allah's Apostle (SAW) was sitting, a Jew came and said, "O Abul Qasim! One of your companions has slapped me on my face." The Prophet (SAW) asked who that was. He replied that he was one of the Ansar. The Prophet (SAW) sent for him, and on his arrival, he asked him whether he had beaten the Jew. He (replied in the affirmative and) said, "I heard him taking an oath in the market saying, 'By Him Who gave Musa (Moses) superiority over all the human beings.' I said, 'O wicked man! (Has Allah given Musa superiority) even over Muhammad (SAW) I became furious and slapped him over his face." The Prophet (SAW) said, "Do not give a prophet superiority over another, for on the Day of Resurrection all the people will fall unconscious and I will be the first to emerge from the earth, and will see Musa (Moses) standing and holding one of the legs of the Throne. I will not know whether Musa (Moses) has fallen unconscious or the first unconsciousness was sufficient for him."
So we can see from these hadiths that it is better to avoid such topics. Prophets (a.s) and Righteous People (r.a) never consider themselves superior to others due to their humility and humbleness.