The replication in results. This suggests that the character has true potential, and it's not just a "top tier player" making a subpar character get over-rated. Likewise, Plup with Samus isn't too far below Pikachu, and Plup is definitely not playing the game on the same level as Hbox/Armada/etc, like Axe is.
The only reason popularity is important is because it increases the odds of a good player picking up that character and evolving their meta. Replication doesn't have **** to do with it because that player isn't necessarily contributing anything new.
You are more or less saying that if there was a Pikachu main around Hugs or Duck level that we wouldn't be having this conversation. Do you not see the issue with this reasoning? Pikachu isn't worse than Samus. More people simply play Samus.
And while Plup isn't playing the same game as the top 6, neither is Axe (though he is obviously very close). The difference lies in the fact we don't know if Plup can even play at that level with a Samus whereas Axe has more or less proven that he can with Pikachu.
No, because not a single IC's player is as skilled as HBox. Hbox looks to be another case of a character being over-rated by a top tier player. Beyond that, IC's results with Wobbles are about on par with HBox's results in the last 2 years. If a less-godly player gets as far as a more godly player with a different character, then it suggests that the less-godly player is using a better character.
I don't really understand what you're trying to say here. You say that no IC's player is as skilled as HBox but then you say Wobbles has just as good results? Wouldn't that mean Wobbles is as "skilled" as Hbox...? If this is the case, shouldn't ICs be ranked higher than Puff by your logic since Fly and Nintendude are creating better "replication" than S0ft?
Sheik beats Pikachu harder than both Samus and Luigi thanks to Pikachu lacking any legitimate moves besides perhaps d-tilt to challenge Sheik in neutral. Sheik's f-tilt will beat Pikachu's realest options, but will lose to many of Luigi and Samus main options like dsmash and possible even their f-tilts. Likewise, Sheik combos Pikachu better than she could ever combo Samus or Luigi. Pikachu has good movement, but he has terrible hitboxes and frame data. Falcon has some of the best movement in the game, but he's definitely not as good as Falco just because Falcon's moves aren't nearly as good for neutral. Falcon's movement is basically a charade -- he has to wiggle the stick a lot to give the illusion of legitimate options. Likewise, neither Samus nor Luigi have that much trouble with Marth (they of course lose, but the matchups are definitely manageable.)
No lol. Neutral involves creating pressure to find advantages and land hits. The fact Samus can't grab, DD, jump, or shield vs. Marth/Sheik simplifies this process because there are far more situations where they can exert control and put her at a disadvantage. Couple that with the fact Marth and Sheik get wayyyy more off their openings than Samus and the unevenness becomes obvious. (Especially Sheik vs. Samus). Luigi has WD-in/WD-out shenanigans but his other movement options (particularly in the air and on recovery) are nothing short of pathetic. Even if he can bound large amounts of ground space and dsmash the neutral is far simpler because his options are so polarized. How does a Luigi respond in a situations where wavedash is too large of a commitment, his low traction makes everything his opponent does safe on block, and he can't jump?
On top of what Sveet said, Pikachu getting beat by ftilt is a gross oversimplification because Pikachu has to become predictable in the neutral first. He has a decent DD, OoS options, spacing tools, recovery, etc. and can avoid getting camped. A Marth/Sheik applying pressuring vs. a Samus is NOT as easy as vs. Pikachu and your understanding of neutral is completely out of whack if you think it is.
