I think an interesting analysis would be to score characters on a proportional system (i.e. results scaled proportionately to number of entrants with a given character), and to discount all of the Melee Gods, to see how characters would scale. You would use the smash majors from 2012 onward for your data.
It seems counter-intuitive ("character matchups should account for only the highest possible competitive play"); however, at the truly "optimal" (TAS) level play, virtually all characters are equal, due to perfect power-shields / move startup lag.
Using tournament data scaled for the proportional number of entrants would be more likely to show the current progress / abilities of the given character in relation to the others.
Note: Not that I agree with that school of thought. I, personally, think that the tier list should reflect the utmost humanly possible level. However, I do think it's interesting that Puff is rated so highly on the backs of two players, each who are considered one of the best six to ever play the game. I also think it's interesting to rate Fox as #1 when only one player (Mango) has ever won a major with him.
Edit:
For those interested, in the Genesis event, the next 4 players who placed outside of the Melee gods were Zhu (Fox / Falco), Scar, Darkrain, and Hax. Top 8 was rounded out by 3 Falcon players.
Genesis 2, the next 4 ourside of the Gods were: Taj (Marth), Shroomed (Dr. Mario), S2J (Falcon), and a 3-way tie between SFAT (Fox), MacD (Peach), and Hax (Falcon).
Apex 2010, the 4 were Axe (Pikachu), Wobbles (IC), Jman (Fox), and Zhu (Falco).
Apex 2012, the 4 were Javi (Fox), KirbyKaze (Sheik), Hax (Falcon), and Shroomed (Dr. Mario).
Apex 2013, the 4 were Shroomed (Dr. Mario), Hax (Falcon), KirbyKaze (Sheik), and a 4-way tie between Vwins (Peach), Axe (Pikachu), Overtriforce (Sheik), and Silent Wolf (Fox).
Apex 2014, the 4 were Colbol (Fox), s0ft (Puff), Fiction (Fox), and a 4-way tie between Ice (Sheik), MacD (Peach), aMSa (Yoshi), and Axe (Pikachu).
Apex 2015, the 4 were aMSa (Yoshi) ALSO OH MY GOD FIFTH PLACE WITH YOSHI, KirbyKaze (Sheik), Shroomed (Sheik), and a 2-way tie between Nintendude (Ice Climbers) and PewPewU (Marth).
Evo2013, the 4 were Wobbles (Ice Climbers), Ice (Sheik), Shroomed (Dr. Mario), and a 3-way tie between Silent Wolf (Fox), SFAT (Fox), and Hax (Falcon).
Evo2014, the 4 were Axe (Pikachu) ALSO OH MY GOD FIFTH PLACE WITH PIKACHU, Fly Amanita (Ice Climbers), Silent Wolf (Fox), and a 3-way tie between Chillin (Fox), PewPewU (Marth), and Plup (Samus).