Ryu has alot going for him with Shoto rushdown and such, not to mention link any weak into low forward super. You can’t judge on versitility of Level 1’s alone though. Ken has more mobility and better dodge attacks. S Groove characters have to be… “tricky” because they’re making up for not having something as abusable as a Roll (RC) and not something as good as a JD or Parry. His dodge attack kick has about one entire character length’s worth of range - he might be able to low strong low fierce fireball, but I think he’s a better option.
For intance, have you ever played a hardcore rushdown S Cammy? She can dodge for free. her punch dodge attacks comes out so fast it can actually hit you before your throw will connect. Then it gets followed by a link, special/super (because the dodge attack punch almost chains, unlike the normal stand fp). You can safely cancel a run by dodge press punch. Cammy HAS to be higher than Rock and Kyosuke in ANY Groove. Dhalsim shouldn’t even make the cut. He’s an unplayable character (trust me, I know about unplayable characters, I push King to the limit). Gouki is a tricky Shoto, which makes him good. But there isn’t a reason to play him in S, not when you can play him in A and it’s godly - Ken has almost as many tricks, better Dodge Attacks, and better vitality. The only person who has a low ass vitality and can make up for it in this Groove is Morrigan. Plain and simple.
I’ve been playing Rock since Beta when he was top tier (his Shine Knuckle at Level 3 in beta testing was two times faster). His only good Groove is P, and maybe K.
I’ll give you Chun-li. If I think about it, run and short hop with stand strong, c.mp, and j.lk is pretty sick. But her Dodge Attacks are absolutely worthless. Absolutely.
Sagat I will also give you. Dodge attack punch is stand fp, and kick is stand rh that will also knockdown/anti air. And low fierce XX low tiger cannon for free is too good, espeically since he’s basically Sentinel for vitality.
I will add Sakura. She has the only other low hitting super in the game and it has has a near instant hitbox. She’s mobile, her dodge attacks are decent, and she’s got alot of tools.
The most important thing to remember about S Groove is that you MUST be willing to play your character WITHOUT SUPERS.
No offense, but I credit your list to be half ridiculous. This is the way it really should look like:
Top tier - (in no paricular order)
Sagat
Cammy
Morrigan
Yamazaki
Sakura
Middle tier -
Ken
Chun Li
actually i have to cut this short, I have to to light a bowl real quick. Sometimes the gorilla brings the jungle my friend.