Thanks, [][][].
My computer doesn't have Japanese characters, by the way. :D
So, it means you can't see this? 僕らはすべての馬鹿だ。
They were semi-clones for me, like Luigi or Ganondorf. But apparently, they had time, so they added 3 clones.
Also, I think Sakurai mostly wanted to put ROB back by himself. Since ROB doesn't have any real owner, Sakurai kinda consider him like his own character. Just like Pit.
I just hope they add those two back in the game. We have Mewtwo, time to bring those two back on the scene. They are still recent, especially Wolf.
Wolf was barely a clone and Lucas was significantly different from Ness in many aspects.
Knowing that the three clones of this game are all made from existing resources, it's fair to assume they were made at the very last second. They had no time to implement more diversified characters like Wolf and Lucas.
Even the more unique moves (Dr. Tornado, Dr. Mario's down aerial and Dark Pit Staff) are copied from existing moves, just from other characters. Dr. Mario's different moves are based on Luigi (they have similar body shapes, so the animations likely didn't need many adjustments), while Dark Pit's Final Smash is a complete reskin of Zelda's Light Arrows as the move does the exact same damage and knockback output. All they had to do was replace the visual effects and make an animation for Dark Pit compatible with the data for Zelda's FS in regards to timings and hitboxes.
Also, Sakurai likes his retro stuff. He always puts retro characters and stages in the games. A lot of retro Namco stuff can be found in this game too.
Curiously, Sakurai's favorite Star Fox character is Wolf. I don't have a source for that, though. He did say he didn't like cutting characters, so I think the cuts only happen when really necessary.
Anyway, I agree that Wolf and Lucas should return. I'm hopeful.