First of all, the NEVADA wasn't damaged enough to be sunk, and almost all of the damage she did sustain was while she was still moored. How do I know? I met the LCDR that got her underway, and I believe he was the ship's damage control officer. Anyway he talked to our class when I was in NROTC. Neat fellow. Interesting story, he was the most senior officer onboard. When he asked for guidance, during the attack, his superiors told him to get underway ASAP. He did, piloting the ship from the battle bridge. The powers that be then saw this massive ship underway and realized that IF she were to be sunk then the harbor would be blocked. They quickly dispatched two tugs to ground her. She sustained more damage due to the grounding than she did from the Japanese, IIRC. Anyway hearing him speak was truly awesome, and an honor to have him speak to a bunch of lowly mids.
The PoW and the Repulse did not have the AAA that later British ships had, ie post 1942. However, they were much better armed for AAW than the Bismark was.
Also, IIRC, at the end the Battle of Midway, Japan had 2 light carriers, ~10 BBs, and numerous cruisers. While the US had 2 CVs and ~10 cruisers, and had a much smaller surface force. Not to mention maybe one carrier air wing that could fly. If Japan would have steamed straight at the Americans they might have been able to force a surface action, at night, that they could have easily won. At the very least they could have driven off the remaining US forces and completed the invasion.
One reason US ships don't have as many guns as we used to is our guns are more accurate than ever before. In fact, I remember reading an article that said the DDG 51 class (1 gun) could put more rounds on target faster than the CG 47 class (2 guns) due to the newer fircontrol systems. Of course, after a while the CG's have a better sustained on target rate. Also of note the newer DDG 51's don't have Harpoon missiles, but they do have a gun that can fire over 3 times the distance of the old gun.
Aviation, was and is a valuable contributor; however, in WWII the idea that BBs were obsolete was a bit premature.