Yeah... Too many people would deny their opponent simply to gain an edge if they knew they always practiced on the boxx. Gentlemen's clause just can't work because of this, although I can see there are good intentions behind it.
Imo the gamecube controller is the most ergonomic controller ever constructed. The amount of people that experience pain simply from holding the controller is virtually negligible.
Tapping buttons for multiple SDI inputs, as opposed to slamming the stick and being extremely fast and accurate in doing so, is a huge advantage. SDI is more important in today's meta than ever before. Accuracy with the stick is, IMHO, the most important skill in melee. If you aren't accurate with the stick, you aren't a good player. With the smash boxx, this skill is virtually no longer tested for in tournament.
I believe the smash boxx is a good thing for players in a position like Hax, who via doctor recommendation cannot use the standard controller. However i think it would be better for the community if another controller was designed that is more ergonomic for a players hands and wrists, without placing certain buttons significantly closer to one another (which would provide an inherent advantage). I would not see this new controller as a problem from a legal standpoint, as the difference would be comparable to the difference between a standard gamecube controller and a Mad Catz controller (which essentially no one has a problem with).
The problem with my view is that from a practical standpoint, it is nonsensical to enforce a rule requiring proof of a doctor's recommendation, not to mention a doctor's recommendation would be easy as **** to obtain simply by telling them that you are experiencing pain with one controller and not with another. It's almost like Adderall, since in theory, only those with a prescription should be allowed to use it, however many people who have a prescription for the drug in reality don't need it (it is one of the most over-prescribed drugs in America). It is for this reason that I feel when it comes to Adderall, a "don't ask, don't tell" policy is best.
The difference is, while no one can tell you're using Adderall (unless you're either abnormally extremely quiet or talkative and it's 8pm and you haven't eaten all day and you exclaim that you still aren't hungry, lmao), everyone can obviously see you're using the smash boxx. We, as a community, have to ask ourselves a number of questions, which include but are not limited to the following:
"Do we want to significantly change the physical/technical skillset that we have always tested for in tournament?"
"Do we want to make (virtually) super-human SDI a much more common occurence in the meta-game?"
"Since the smash boxx is so far against the standard, are we willing to open the door for any and all types of controllers to be used in melee?"
Legality is a slippery slope, especially when their is no organization or elected committee to oversee or determine what is suitable and sensible regarding tournament play, from both a competitive standpoint, and for what is best for the future of the game and our community. If you allow an inch, a mile will soon be taken. This is another reason why I do not like significantly deviating from the standard (another reason being that it has been in place for 15 years).
As you open the door for any and all controllers, you also open the door for new intentions. Many people want to see the smash boxx become legal so that players who experience pain using the standard controller can compete. This is a sensible, honorable, and selfless view. However, by introducing such a change, we will also be opening the door for people to use new controllers specifically designed to make multiple aspects of the game easier in order for the competitor to gain a competitive advantage in tournament. Then, whether anyone likes to admit it or not, we will have begun to have one's ability to obtain a good controller be a "skill" we test for in tournament. Players who cannot obtain one of these controllers for whatever reason will be starting off with an inherent competitive disadvantage. The days of buying a gamecube and a gamecube controller and being able to enter a tournament on an even playing field with all other competitors will be over.
Many people do not have the foresight to anticipate the consequences and ramifications of making a change like this. I urge everyone to think about this extremely thoroughly before developing your stance. Keep in mind that I have only began to brush upon the consequences of making this change.
This is not the only option. This should NOT be a "yay or nay" discussion. We must concisely identify the problem (primarily hand pain), and as a community, brainstorm for solutions that yield minimal negative consequences.