The thing about covers is that they are good songs, and that is why they ARE covered.
On the other hand, the vast majority of self-penned numbers may not be so very good, or else they WOULD be covered.

This, however, is the wrong site to volunteer opinions like Michael's, since it is a folk and blues site, staffed and peopled by folks who perform and like music that often has some historical background.

I base my opinion on songs by whether I like them, and whether other people like them enough to cover them.
CDs by comparative newby's are everywhere these days, as opposed to the LP days, when it was difficult and expensive to get something released that didn't look as if it would sell!

All the songs that I wrote weren't very good, but I DID realise that.
Eventually.