I expected no less from you!

Wow, you know, I think we're playing completely different games.

I frequently see big switch arounds in positions as races progress.

An exaggeration of course, but you get the idea, races aren't as hype as they used to be. Also the problem becomes more apparent the better the group you're racing with is.

It's okay, I think I figured out the problem. You've not had 10 beers first! :D

Uh nope!

Also from 6000 to 9000VR I used a weight focused combo in Bowser + Jet Bike + Gold Tires + Weight Glider and most races went literally as I described, where I would either get in 1st early on and win from there, or I'd never see 1st place at all.

You've never played Mario Kart then XD

Time to man up and bring out the Mario Kart drinking game (winner has to drink) it makes a great equaliser! Don't you go using any of that watery american beer though!

You can't say "items are just as prevalent in MK8" and then go on to say they change little during the game. That's a blatant contradiction, and yes, whatever your intent is trying to say, it's still a blatant contradiction.

MK8 items are "not" as prevalent compared to past MK titles. They have been toned down objectively by restricting racers to a single item at a time, and instead relies more on racing. Items are still obviously a big part of the game, but in MKWii, and 7, that's 90% of every race. MK8 is closer to even compared to those games, and everything you say is proving this with your "you don't change your position, that's boring". Perhaps that's because this is the first MK game you've played in a while where items are not 100% guarantee'd crutches to win in the place of skill? I can say, in fact, that MKDS was also more skill based which could perhaps be one of the reasons you didn't enjoy it as much. MK7 was heavily criticized for lacking the depth of MKDS at release.

Almost every item has the ability to turn things around if your racing ability and set up is good enough to keep up with other racers. I've been behind many times for half of the race and turned things around with both good driving and items, so I can already conclude your accusation false. The problem is that the item balance isn't broken enough for you to stand on that alone anymore, and that isn't a bad thing to me. It's the opposite.

And yes, you can find flaws with MK8's system (the coins, for example), but we can find very easy flaws in past MK's as well. Much more, imo. And at least the flaws in MK8 don't reduce the game entirely to luck. (Despite the entire series having luck play a factor to some degree) 

As for tracks, since when were any of MK7's tracks in-depth? Most of them are par for the course series' standards. Have you bothered to look up strats for MK8 tracks? Have you bothered using Fire Hopping and every option available to you? 

Boo this man!

*Cue crowd booing*

But for real, I respect your opinion even though it is clearly wrong. Mario Kart 8 is superior in nearly every way over the travesty that was Mario Kart 7.

Alright, it's a contradiction. Whatever it's called, MK8's item balance has a negative effect on the game with it going against what Mario Kart's all about, exciting crazy fun where everyone feels like they a chance in any given race up til the final seconds, of which are always different, hence why it's so addictive. It's not ment to be a highly competitive n skillful game, otherwise there would be zero items. However, skill, both driving and item usage, have always been the most important factor over luck in every Mario Kart game. Items alone don't guarantee anything. You first have to have comparable driving skills to everyone else to give most items a chance of doing anything, then you have to be as good at using items for them to really make a difference, especially in MK7 with most of it's item roster not being auto-pilot and instead requiring timing and precision. Funnily enough your third paragraph only supports this.

Unless you honestly believe that those at the front are there always because of skill alone, then the problem with MK8's item balance is not that it makes the game more or less skillful, but that opportunitys for comebacks are that much fewer, thus the game is less exciting, and yes comebacks can take as much if not more skill as front running. Of course, what item you actually get when you pass through an item box is pure luck in all Mario Karts... but not completely, atleast not in MK7, where the items you can get are based on positioning, a balance that's always made sense and succeeded at making each race dynamic throughout. In MK8, it seems to be based on distance from next racer, but however it's decided, it's very possible to be blasted by reds, starmans, piranhas, etc. in a row, being knocked down to the bottom, go through an item box, only to get a single green shell or mushroom. Yeah I don't think that's even remotely fun. I'd rather have a chance to make an epic comeback.

The one item limit only makes everyone use their current item before the next set of item boxes, thus the amount of items being thrown around doesn't lessen, infact it's increased with four more racers on the track. So really all it does is make you more likely to be combo'ed and deter's backspam making front running less interesting and harder for lightweights.

Since not every vehicle can do it, Fire Hopping is an imbalance, especially since outside drift is already better than inside. I don't enjoy doing it either, as I feel like I'm cheating against inside drifters, and it's almost as annoying n tedious to perform as snaking. MK8's tracks are cool looking and some very creative in design and mechanics, but they're straightforward, one look and you already know that the best route is. The only strats (maybe I'm not using this term right hehe) I discovered from other players online were 2 on Rainbow Road (practically edge clipping in the space station and dropping down on the split roads) and 2 on Mount Wario (the ramp before the cave and inside of it falling down holding a drift instead of taking the glider). There aren't any shroomless off-road cuts, glider tricks, or crazy jumps like in MK7. On Music Park, a good example since it's also in 8, you used to be able to drift on the inside keys at the xylophone(?) parts, and you could bounce on the drum at the end without ending up in the grass.

Also are you implying I'm not good at Mario Kart lol? I'd say I'm atleast pretty good as I win more often than not even without using the game's best combo(s). I can consistently get top finishes with regular 1st places among those in both 7 and 8, though in 8 only while using a heavy combo versus any combo I feel like in 7 due to it's superior balancing. So skill and winning are not my issue, the amount of fun I have while doing so are. Having less interesting races, being forced to use certain combos if I wanna compete, it all just make MK8's gameplay less fun for me.