OK people, time to drop the knowledge!
VF doesn't have enough variety for my tastes - that's my main problem with just about any 3D fighter.
Marth is hardly "overrated". The number of good moves isn't the most important factor at high level - just look at Tekken.
Zurreco, you DO know Ky is easily the best character in Slash, right, and Chipp is actually decent?
XX and #r were eventually broken by the Japanese, mostly with Slayer/Eddie in XX and just Eddie in #r. People associate XX with Sol dust loop, but he wasn't on their level - Americans just liked him because he was easy mode. Slash, on the other hand, has remained excellent throughout its lifespan.
However, in the new one (Accent Core), Chipp is back to suckitude. Ky isn't as good but more interesting/fun, it looks like. Most of the weaker characters throughout the series can actually compete now, though - May, Venom, Zappa.
Best fighting games IMO, in terms of variety & depth at high level, are:
1. Guilty Gear Slash (& possibly AC)
2. SF2 Hyper Fighting (Turbo, for the console warriors)
3. Super SF2 Turbo
I'm not a huge fan of the supers in ST - the good ones drastically restrict your gameplan and allow for lucky wins. Old Sagat is real lame too, but the rest is all good. HF has lots of interesting stuff lost in future versions, such as Zangief's K lariat (invincible to sweeps), Balrog's invincible turn-around punch, and Chun's almost shoto-level fireball. I often find the HF characters more fun than the ST ones.
Oh, and as an aside, I think Tekken and 3rd Strike are the most overrated tourney games. I'll explain why if anyone cares.
And on topic, I always thought Evo was nuts NOT to include Smash before, but realized that the Major League Gaming schedule made it virtually impossible. That's the whole reason they have it now - MLG just dropped Smash this year.
Also note, Evo staff members have outright said in the past that they always make it a point to include the hottest new 3D fighters. That's why you had DOA last year, and two PS3 games this year when few players own one.
All in all, though, this is their strongest game lineup yet. Last year was marred by DOA, Mario Kart DS, Tekken 5.0, and SF2 Anniversary Edition - respectively replacing them are VF5, Smash, Dark Resurrection (best or 2nd best in the series), and ST. That's what we call "trading up." =)
but then you take my 75 perchance chance of winning, if we was to go one-on-one, and then add 66 and two-thirds ch...percents...i got a 141 and two-thirds chance of winning at sacrifice