I think a fighter model of not being able to escape combos is ridiculous. I think comboing should exist in some fashion, but not to the point of losing hope. A fighter in which a player can get good enough at comboing that if he lands a single blow I will lose 75% of my health is a fighter I am probably not going to spend a lot of time playing.
Brawl is easily the best party fighter of all time. Soul Calibur 2/3 might be the best head to head fighter.
Throw in some SNK fighter in third place for good measure.