a pretty tight list.  I'd disagree on just a few things.  I don't think sonic will be back, but i'd be cool if he was.   I don't think they'll scale ridley down to make him playable, I hope they use olimar instead of alph, but gameplay wise it wouldn't matter, i think toad will stay in his rightful place as peach's living shield, i don't think a paper mario will be in there.  Everything else i COULD see happening.  Captain rainbow would be pretty cool considering how low profile he is.  Kinda like fire emblem used to be japan only till smash put a spotlight on it.  I feel like shulk is probably wishful thinking, but i hope i'm wrong.

• I think Sonic will be back because of Sega's exclusive deal, I wouldn't care if he wasn't though.
• Ridley is on my list because I think someone else from Metroid should be there, I'm doubtful too.
• I want Alph just so the game is more up to date. Olimar is awesome though and as you said, it wouldn't change anything.
• I've always been a Toad fan so I'd like to see him there. I don't think it's likely but he has been a main playable character in multiple games since Brawl.
• Paper Mario is different enough to be a character, I think It'd be pretty cool but again unlikely.
• Captain Rainbow would be awesome for the sole reason that nobody would know who he is...
• Shulk has a good chance IMO, Xenoblade has gotten a good amount of attention.
• Lastly, I'd really like to see Banjo & Kazooie in the game under a deal with Microsoft but sadly that is wishful thinking.

tbone51 said:

Someone from Animal Crossing was my most wanted character in Brawl, very happy Villager will be in 4. I originally wanted Tom Nook because he isn't a standard human but he looks to be shaping up very well.

Someone who will most likely leave but I want back is Toon Link.

He was the reason I cleared boss battles in Intense. :3

I want Ness back, the master Uber

I was kinda skeptical at first when I saw the more cartoonish artstyle in comparison to Brawl, but eh, it's starting to grown on me, and it does make more sense overall.

That was the 3DS version, not the full, WiiU version.  the WiiU version is as beautiful and gorgeous as you'd hope. 

For me, I hope they either ditch or nerf Ike.  get rid of Falco and Wolf.  Get Rid of Toon Link.  Completely change Gannondorf's move set.  completely change Lucas's move list.  No need for any doubles, in any way.  Keep absolutely everyone else.  

Change Ike
Change Toon Link (or just ditch him entirely)
Get rid of Falco and Wolf, or keep one and drastically alter his move set
Completely change Gannondorf (he sucks and there's no need for the exact same move list as Falcon)
Change most of Lucas's moves (there's a lot to do in Earthbound) 

Other than that, I think Sonic and Snake should stay, Maybe add Dixie Kong (in celebration of Tropical Freeze), Dude from Wonderful 101, 
Definitely add Krystal from Star Fox.  Much better
Ask square Enix to include Geno and/or Mallow.  
Little Mac is a must
Ridley/Metroid? 
MewBuu instead of Mewtwo (same move set, new character)
One more Pokemon (because Pokemon are awesome, and there's too many to go through.  Maybe Deoxys?)
Zero/Roll
a character made of Tetris Blocks (similar to Game + Watch)
Birdo
Midna/Wolf Link

That;s my list. 

I would say to cut off the clone characters but they can be a nice option for instance when someone wants to play with link (my favorite character) i get to play with toon link just for not using the exact same characters