I know Link is really liked among the players. But almost nobody picks him in standard tourney for obvious reasons. So if you impose a low tier rule, a lot of people will pick him. And no need to say they're all running away and throwing projectile, which is in my opinion one of the most boring stuff to play against.
Star King: I feel that if people feel they have a clear advantage they will play aggressively, but as soon as the games become closer, nobody hesitates to play defensive/gay/campy. Which is a pity, especially when I play Ness...