I think the fact they can spend more money on one player in a season that could buy our team and stadium in a one suggests the difference between the dominance you expect and reality Derby are a big club that have been through turmoil. Currently a band of misfits in my eyes, a band of mercenaries that have been poached, freebies and potentials.
They have been bought together in the hope that they can be gelled into a winning team.
You argue that the rest of the league are awful, but the difference is they have been pretty much together as teams for a while with the odd addition, they know the league. They play tough (not pretty football). Most rely on sitting as a back 11 then hitting on the break. They are hard to break down.
People who think this league is a walk over, are deluding them selves.