None of them hold up. Toad just isn't that likely. You say he's likely because at best, he has a damn character model. He doesn't walk, jump, he's basically the same as a mushroom shield. He's not notable in Smash at all. Literally. Stop overestimating what he has. He's just... there. Of course people want him playable, but other characters are just plain more likely since they already can fight.
What was Diddy Kong notable in Smash for? Nothing, until Brawl.
Meta Knight? Trophy.
Dedede? Background image and Trophy.
Wario? Trophy and color scheme for Mario.
Olimar? Trophy.
And who says Toad can't fight? Do you not know his potential?
There is nothing that makes him more likely than any AT(of the fighter variety).
Except for, you know, being one of Mario's Big 8, being requested greatly since before Melee (at which he still had Bowser, Peach, and Wario to get by first. Now he doesn't), and overall most of the Assists not having a chance.
You're overrating his chances heavily. Very heavily. It's be better if you stop.
You're underestimating his chances heavily. Very heavily. It'd be better if you stop.
See how douchy that sounds? Doesn't help your argument at all.
Every AT is a character who had a fair chance of being playable, but was given a very tiny moveset and the ability to move on their own. Like mini-characters, if you will.
OH BOY! I've always wanted to play as a plane thing that just moves slowly and blocks your path or a mole that lectures you to death or a pixelated turtle in a cloud or a giant polygon face that shoots tiles!
What does Toad have compared to this? Zip. Sakurai didn't even want him as a fighter anymore. Otherwise he would've been in Brawl by now.
Baseless assumptions, a good argument does not make.
As I've said before, Toad has relevance, being one of the Mario Big 8, popularity, and potential. He's not useless as you make him out to be.
And "Sakurai didn't even want him as a fighter anymore."? I'm sorry, but HOW do you know this? Are you his BFF or something?
And no, Toad had Wario as a hurdle (don't give me any **** about Wario repping his own series, he still served as a hurdle due to being more requested than Toad.) Now Toad has no hurdles to cross.
[QUOTE He could change his mind, but there is nothing making him the best Mario choice where it counts. [/QUOTE]
Except you know, relevancy, popularity, yadda yadda yadda, I went over this before already.
Who would you consider a better choice, Bowser Jr.? Waluigi? Lol.
The problem is, every AT (of the fighters) fit Sakura's criteria. They all had something going for them. Moving, maybe a jump, an attack. Toad... does not.
While they fit "criteria", most of them don't have much going for them except for Little Mac with his Western support, Saki, who Sakurai himself mentioned that was requested, and MAYBE Isaac (if Matthew is not chosen in his stead) for his Western support.
What did Diddy Kong have again, oh that's right, NOTHING.
Dedede, Meta Knight, Olimar, and Wario just took up space on a desk.
No matter how you slice it, he just has less than a lot of other characters.
No matter how YOU slice it, most ATs are going to STAY ATs. Rather you beleive so or not.
They should come first before the last main character gets in.(although it's very arguable that he's still a secondary, he straddles the line, really)
No, popular requests should come before characters that are nothing more than glorified Poke Balls.