I prefer the first Xenoblade game, but XC2 has strong points that the first one doesn't. Also, while no game in the existence is perfect, Xenoblade Chronicles isn't precisely a game with few flaws or aspects that could be potentially better. For example, the combat. While it isn't bad at all, XC2/Torna Golden Country's combat feels a lot more engaging and interesting than the first game.
Then you have people constantly pointing out XC2's tropes, which are certainly there, but it's not like XC1 is free of them. First of all, tropes aren't a bad thing per se. It depends in how you execute these tropes. But if people attacks Xenoblade 2 for having more notorious tropes, I think they should be coherent with themselves and do the same with the first game.
I mean I'm usually not a big fan of super anime tropes and XC2 had a few moments of these that I didn't enjoyed, but it weren't that bad or that big to make me dislike the game, you know? Because characters were still cool, music was great, story was engaging most of the time, and the combat was great. Yeah, the game has some flaws or things that could be improved, I completely agree with that. But Xenoblade 2 being a mediocre game? Sorry, but I just think that's just wrong.
Also unpopular opinion I guess, but I have still to find a character in the first Xenoblade as memorable or interesting as Nia, Lora, Jin or Malos. I could even include Zeke or Mòrag there as well.
Considering that Fighter Pass 2's bonus is a boring Ancient Armor costume they probably acknowledge that putting a super desired newcomer in as a DLC-only costume was not a nice thing to do. The Rex costume should've been base-game.
That said, I don't think just because XB2 and Arms are both games that missed the base roster that they have equal reason to get in now. ARMS compared to XB2
-is an entirely new IP rather than a sequel
-sold more copies in a more niche genre
-is the original IP brainchild of someone responsible for many of Nintendo's best hits (Yabuki directed Mario Kart 8, which is still selling millions)
As a favor to Yabuki, as promotion of something totally new that did very well ARMS is very justified in a fighter pack. The inclusion of Shulk in Smash -at all- did huge things for Monolith Soft in a very similar way - except it did all this before Xenoblade reached even a fraction of the height ARMS did.
Yeah. While Rex chances have certainly increased in our eyes, I don't see him as a lock or anything. Despite that, he's one of the most likely first parties out there, or at least that's what I feel. But ARMS getting a character doesn't mean Rex will get in.