And what makes you think that Lucas, Wolf or even Lucario are especial at all and are above of Snake (because of the third party, that always fall because of the inclusion of Mega Man, Sakurai did work hard to make him playable is the same for Snake he will requested again). You haven´t give any single reason as to not cut Lucas, Wolf or Lucario, for one the Earthbound/Mother series can be represented by one character like the F-Zero series is, Erathbound/Mother do not require two characters at all especially if both are similar, is like comparing Falco, Fox and Wolf (I will be back later). We can miss one, the same can happen to Wolf where did the StarFox series does need a villain, if DK dosen´t have a villain and is a much more important series to Nintendo, why does StarFox is so important to have a third rep that resembles again the Kit of the two main heroes, if DK can survive without his villain from one installment and a third rep, I assume the same can be for StarFox and finally I know you love Lucario and put him in a high pedestal but if we compare Pokeomn and who should get the axe from Smash between Jigglypuff, Pokemon Trainer, Mewtwo or Lucario, the obvious answer would be Lucario.
Before Toon Link make it to the confirm characters, he was cut from many of my rosters for the same reason, but I learned from one Interview that Sakurai always did consider to make two links one child and one grown up to represent both parts of the series in each game, thats the reason of the inclusion of Toon Link. Second Falco has seniority it has been in two game and probably he will be up again in the new Smash, I wish Sakurai would Luigified more Falco so it can get further and further from Fox until he has his own moveset the same goes for Ganondorf (I never like that he has the same moveset as Captain Falcon and I hope he gets his own moveset now, at least there are more games in the series, where Sakurai can get material for a complete new overhaul in Ganondorf).
By the way you can´t compare a series like Mario and Zelda as to what is StarFox or Eartbound/Mother, even if they get similar movesets from one and another. The StarFox Series is really in a tight spot I did not believe what did Sakurai did with the StarFox series in Brawl, so far the three reps have a very similar kit thats why at least I think Wolf will get the axe.
Takamaru, is because of popularity and fan requests from both (the East and the West) and also Sakurai say he wants to bring a retro character back like the Ice Climbers and Pit. Who will be? My guess is good as yours, so please tell me, who do you think from the retro characters can comeback and have a really cool moveset potential? For one I say Harry, Hakkun, Donbe and Hikari, and the Marvelous Boys (Dion, Max and Jack) would be more interesting than Takamaru, but again the fan demand is bigger with him and the character seems getting new life from the many games that he has make a cameo for example Nintendo Land, Captain Rainbow and others.
The reality is that you think you have every reason to discard what I say when in reality you haven´t given me anything to change my mind as to why Wolf, Lucas or Lucario should take over Snake, especially Wolf and Lucas (and being a villain is not a reason).
I don´t know why you bring the comment of you defending G&W, Ice Climbers and Ness two years ago, but if we did meet in that time I would probably support that idea by that time, the reason is because Ice Climbers represents a sole series on their own, the same with G&W (and both have unique movesets). Ness has seniority thats the reason as why he is over Lucas and will be forever. If Lucas did come first he will be the one standing and the axed would be Ness but because thats not the case, I can´t do anything at all about that.
.n_n.