Why do Rams and Bucks bang their heads together? Dissing the competition is a natural thing. Dylan obviously felt that Phil Ochs was a threat. All those other guys you mention were also part of the pack that young Mr. D. saw as his competition, but there were few out there that had the body of high quality work that Phil Ochs did. We live in a very competitive society (if anyone hasn't noticed). This is not meant as a criticism, but Capitalism fosters competition rather than cooperation. You have to be very self-assured to not react negatively when you feel challenged. On the other hand, you have to be tough when the criticism is aimed at you and see other's criticism for what it is. You have to take it all with the proverbial grain of salt. It's a shame that Phil Ochs appeared to take it all too seriously. He forgot that quality work stands on its own, whether accepted when offered or not. He lost faith that his work would eventually be proven out. And finally, he began to see himself as past his time. Maybe if he would have felt the support from a peer like Dylan, he might have weathered that period of his life, seen some of the appreciation of his work that has developed, and gone on to write even more high quality stuff.

This is all just my speculation on this subject, based on what I've read. I think it's a shame that Phil Ochs isn't around now.