Guys.
GUYS.
GUYS.
It's spelled canon.
Remember: it's just like Ganon is part of Zelda canon.
"But it would be unorthodox to do so because we'd have to wreck him as a character and completely undermine the design choices of the Metroid devs."
"Good thing the Zelda devs don't care if we completely ignore everything about how Ganondorf behaves though!"
The number one rule, I think, is the rule of fun. Ridley is popular, a major character, has plenty of move set potential and would give Metroid a much-deserved second character. I think he fits the criteria pretty well.
The issues I see that could get Ridley in trouble are 1. how COMPLICATED his character model would be which is related to 2. the SHAPE of his body, which even if he's shrunk down to a reasonable size, might be a little awkward and 3. if they don't think he's INTERESTING enough as a character (as in, not enough personality). Also, 4. the way he MOVES in many appearances (perhaps accounting for Sakurai's comment that Ridley might be slow as a playable character) and 5. the fact that he's only popular in the West.
I don't think Sakurai is going to reject him because of the size. It's really not that big of a deal. 2 is slightly related to his size, in that shrinking him down to a point where his body shape is not a problem makes him too small relative to Samus (as in that video that was posted earlier). But the Super Metroid design and the way he appears in the opening to Melee would have much fewer issues in that regard. But I think those are his main issues, not his size per se.
I personally think that those can all be addressed. But perhaps Sakurai disagrees. But the size problem has an easy solution: Just pull that stick out of your ass, make him smaller and remember it's Smash, it doesn't make any sense in the first place.
He's really not that powerful if Link can repeatedly take his energy blasts and still knock him out with a series of sword strikes. In that sense Ganondorf is surprisingly even against most of the other fighters.
Except Link has the Master Sword and Triforce of Courage, without which he'd be swatted away like a fly by Ganondorf. Which is, in fact, exactly what happens in the Wind Waker when you confront him without it. Link is not just some kid with just some sword.
Anyway, remember, we must respect the Zelda devs!
I'm not a Ridley hater, I'd like to see him in Smash too. Hope you guys get it.
According to you, it wouldn't actually be Ridley though. Kinda hard to believe that you think him being playable would ruin him as a character, but that you also support it happening.
Unless you're just playing devil's advocate. But it doesn't seem that way to me.
Also, sorry, but whether shrinking Ridley down would make him "just not Ridley" or not is
subjective. So no matter how much logic you use, you weren't going to prove that that was objectively true (and Ridley supporters aren't going to prove the opposite either). Sorry.