No, it's not disingenuous. I'm using the term placeholder consistently--"an image that is not the final product." Almost everybody agrees on that part for the reasons I specified. As such, you and box theorists *infer* the negative space will be filled in, and nothing else will change. If you think that's a reasonable inference, that's fine. I don't think it's reasonable under that view they'd be that careful to censor the image, but not careful enough to think out the fact people would be able to guess the final roster. I agree--it's a weird image. There's a weird (nonsensical) pattern. That's not convincing to believe that gives us any indication about what the final design would look like, which is why I call it a placeholder. Maybe it's not, but I see no reason to suspect otherwise. And that's just one, of many ridiculous assumptions for the theory to work. Whereas the assumption that the blog takes the NEW banner down before a reveal--is as simple as it gets.
First condescending arguments from authority, now I'm disingenuous. Apologies if I struck a nerve somehow, but wow.
EDIT:
I'd definitely love to make it positive, despite how difficult it is at times. It's hard for me to say a 10 because that would be "perfect", though the E3 reveal blew my expectations out of the water and I would have been content with that being the final roster. And then it just kept going. So for that reason, I'd say it's a 10. Not a perfect 10, but as close as it gets. Stages is another issue--I would have gone a different route, especially if "103" is final. I'd give that a 7.
The biggest problem, in my humble opinion, with pointing out that it’s a placeholder as a point against it is that it doesn’t explain the design choice in the first place.
For example, if they were just going to use a placeholder in order to hide the roster total or something, why not just upload an image of a black box that says, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”, or a white box with black text? THAT there is a true placeholder.
Then there’s the fact that there is, whether we like it or not, a pattern to the design. If it’s a design that is going to eventually be changed anyway, why bother creating a pattern that splices the characters into groups of 9 when the easier thing to do is to just put them on the boxes in order?
The answer, which in this context seems to make quite a bit of sense, is that they had to break it up that way based on the order they would be in, unique or echo. This is why it’s important for Ken or somebody else within those 8 characters (Palutena through Cloud) to be present.
Granted, that doesn’t confirm Incineroar by any means. But that’s the working theory.
But i’ll skip anymore box talk. I just wanted to clarify the thing with the “placeholder” design because I think that argument is a double edged sword. Yes, it’s a placeholder, but it’s a placeholder with a very specific design. The design is based on the roster, not the other way around.
Really at this point I just want the roster to leak or be revealed so that we have answers. Or better yet, release the game a month early. That would also be great!