Cool, it sounds like you definitely have experience since you said you've been to tournies. Perhaps you could beat me up on wifi sometime if you have the xbox version and when I get wifi.
As for combos, I do those old school sky dance combos on my Dante, trying to get better at the bear trap combos for rocket raccoon (I use a xbox controller, I want to get the other controller), and on my point character vergil i'm working very hard on his combos/finding ways to use my current team's assists with him. This is probably my best combo so far, but i'm not used to charging up round about in real battles just yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JgBHzalSM&feature=channel_video_title I took what I learned from guides and what I know about my current assists and mashed it all together.
I also have another idea on how I can use rocket raccoon's crappy assists to make a combo with vergil.
Also i'm guessing what you mean by at the right time is when your worried about them opening you up or on a laggy normal?
One more question. Where would you suggest buying those mvc3 controllers and how much are they?