Remind me again then, why do we play with 3 stocks and 8 minutes? Why shouldn't we just "deal with it" and have 2 stocks and 3 minute or whatever to game gives us? Adding a stock and a couple of minute changes the game into something it isn't and it is catering to a specific (and unaware) portion of the community, which is something that a standard ruleset shouldn't do.
We play with 3 stocks and 8 minute timer because the game lets us choose to do so.
You and I agree on this point and general philosophy. Should someone want to host a tournament on Coin match, or 5 stocks and a 1 minute timer, they would be free to do so, as they should be.
This is one of the reasons I am strongly opposed to a "required" ruleset and think that a recommendation is the best way to go. This game's greatest achievement is its ability to be played many ways.
Regardless of what ruleset you decide on, you must agree that a tournament's rules must be enforced and must be equal for all participants. This is where the ability to toggle handicaps becomes incompatible with competition. The act of changing the handicap directly conflicts with the requirements of an equal playing field for all participants because it DIRECTLY seeks to make the playing field unequal. This is the purpose of a handicap. This is why it cannot and does not exist in serious competition.
Your issue is that you view the act of
players having the ability to toggle this handicap as "an option as to their preference". I suppose you could argue your way into claiming that is open to interpretation, however the vast and overwhelming majority would argue that the purpose of the competition would then be a statistical endeavor in an effort to find whoever could get the "magic number" rather than a focus on the gameplay itself.
This would be incredibly undesirable in a competitive environment for a fighting game and much more suited for Strategy or RPG gameplay, given the immense lack of depth that lies in simply adjusting one's handicap compared to the vast statistical options available in genres more suited to that style of play.
Edit: Nvm, this isn't worth it. If you want to continue using a broken ruleset, ignoring completely viable options for improvement and QQing about MK like little babies all day long then have fun.
Aw, you gave up before I could completely counter your argument
Seriously though, I'm not QQ'ing about MK in the slightest. Now you're just resorting to name calling and flaming.