Whenever I see a fan roster which decides to use a final evolved starter from each type, I tend to disregard it immediately

I don't think I will ever understand why people are so dead set on Pokemon's representation in Smash half being made from a fully evolved starter of each type. It doesn't feel at all like the best way to represent the franchise as it pigeon holes representation to a very narrow selection.

I understand including Charizard and Greninja, obviously. Charizard is an icon who deserve a place in Smash, no doubt. Greninja has become unmatched in terms of popularity, landing first in the Pokemon of the Year poll. These two make sense to be in Smash. Even Blaziken has always been insanely popular so I can see a case in isolation for it being added, but not instead of Charizard. And otherwise none of the starters have been on that other level of popularity - especially not any of the grass starters.

Put it this way - is there a single grass starter that really deserves to be it's generation's rep? Or any starter beyond Greninja? People might point to Incineroar but come on, Incineroar isn't even the most popular final form starter in its generation, and I would argue that even Decidueye would have been a poor fit and the much mroe popular, much more relavent, much more unique Mimikyu should have been a shoe in.

What about Sceptile? Even worse - Sceptile isn't even the best option in its own evolutionary line, as Grovyle is a much more natural choice.

And Rillaboom? Cinderace? Rillaboom was a popular choice entirely because it was a grass starter, but looking at how no one seems to care about it now, that should expose the issue with that one. It is a pick that seems to be there to check a box instead of to actually be a good pick. And Meowscarada fills that exact same niche, as we will see as soon as gen 10 releases.

As for Cinderace, I think this exposes one of the other reasons choosing a fully evolved starter as a Pokemon rep is silly - why would we not go for Scorbunny instead? The much more iconic Pokemon? The much more popular Pokemon? The one that would have all the moveset potential of Cinderace but in a more unique package?

But we don't need starters at all. Imagine how weird it would be if Infernape was in rather than Lucario or, worse, Torterra just because it is a grass type. Going back to Meowscarada, wouldn't a mroe significant or relevant Pokemon just be better? Ogerpon or Charcadet or even Tinkaton. Meowscarada's relwvance dies the second a next generation comes along, but Tinkaton? That thing is gonna stay popular for sure.

Wasting half the roster slots on final starters, including at least one that sticks out like a sore thumb, just feels silly. Pokemon has so much variety and putting that arbitrary restriction on it doesn't allow the franchise to shine. In a franchise that could give us Ditto, Eevee, Mimikyu, Zoroark, Tinkaton and so much more, why would Meowscarada be the best choice?