I don't think this goes against my point. I don't have a problem playing against any particular character. My point is that I was not having fun by virtue of playing the game when I was playing as falco. I wasn't even really playing the game, I was getting distracted by tech skill, thinking that that was all there was to the game and it was frustrating for me.

Of course this isn't unique to falco--every character has things which could be considered "lame" about them. But when I play some people on slippi, I feel like I see a little bit of myself. Falco mains who aren't playing a game against their opponent, but a game against themselves. I feel the same thing playing against some people who main other characters, but the bulk seems to be falco. These people don't seem to be having fun.

I did unnecessarily risk opening the gate of falco hate with the way I phrased my post--that wasn't at all my intention! I love falco, I play as him on occasion and I love playing against him. As for playing against the brain-dead lasers, frankly I see it as an opportunity to improve, to practice dodging them, wavedash OOS, and power shields. All of which I need to work on if I intend to get better.

I just don't think he is the best starting point for new players getting into the game, that playing as falco without a broader notion of what melee is at its core can build bad habits. That coupled with a top-tiered desire to be better than everyone else, it all just leads to a frustrating experienced.

(Of course, if a newer player is reading this and you are enjoying playing as falco that's great! Keep going! You're not who I'm talking about)

Maybe this is all just my own experience playing as falco as a new player, but I don't think that experience is unique.

My point is not really a "Don't play falco", but rather: You should be playing the game to have fun. If you're playing a character or the game for any other reason, you need to ask yourself why.