Best drummer led band?

I've often thought the same regarding Furio's name and general approach to the kit. Never thought of Chad that way but you've effectively remedied that.

Unforgivable oversight on my part - I knew there was a band missing!

You know, at the risk of going OT, this category almost fits Kansas. The various article I've read about the band, if somebody is meeting with somebody or dropping a demo off, it's Phil Ehart. If anybody is calling up bandmembers, it's Phil again. 

No doubt that the artistic leaders were, in order, Kerry Livgren and then Steve Walsh, but in practically everything it's Ehart. I noticed that Phil finally credits himself as co-producer on the last album. 

Anyway, I voted Magma. And probably would no matter who was up there. 

When you consider that of all those, only Christian Vander has written a vast majority of all the material for MAGMA, I would say that your question has only one answer.

Bruford did not write most of his YES and KC material ... he added to it. Moerlin added magnificent percussion to his work, but was not a composer per se and he would never had stated that ... in fact in personal conversations he said ... I just try to add to the music! (Portland during his Gong visit!) ... and did he EVER!

Palmer, would probably deserve to be listed here, however, I am not sure that most would have selected him over a KE or GL for the compositional material, however, I do not see that a "regular/cheap" drummer that can only count to 4 and use the snare drum for a timer, can do anything like the touches and feels that CP did for ELP ... many of which were superlative and very well defined and designed.