Actually, my favorite fighter is the Naruto GNT series for the gamecube (haven't played the wii versions yet). But that is probably due to the insanely fun three and four player fights as much as it is due to the simplicity of the controls.

For some reason I don't like Smash Bros very much. It's a fun game, but I somehow cannot take it serious as a fighter.

Well this is a separate discussion in itself but let's go:

First of all, everything you say is true, I am not disagreeing with you about how street fighter works.

"This is why a double 360 motion is in Street Fighter, it is a core element of the gameplay mechanics, to take it out is not "simplifying", but turning it into another game"

Yes. Another, better game. See, I believe that the fun of a fighting game comes from the strategy, timing and psychology. And of course a mastery of when to use which moves when playing as a certain character. The extra layer of making the controls require mastery is something I DO NOT enjoy. I can lose a match in Street Fighter because, even though my strategy, timing and understanding of the moves was perfect (say I lured my player into the effective range of my special somehow) ,I failed to correctly input the double 360 causing my character to do a simple punch or kick instead of the move that would have made me win.

Now when that happens I don's feel like I'm Zangief, but rather somebody trying to control Zangief and failing at that. If that layer if control problems is removed and the characters in the fighting game always do what I want them to do when I want them to do it, I as a player feel empowered and much more immersed in the game, because if I lose it will be because the opponent had a better strategy, was faster in deciding what move to use or tricked me with a feint or whatever.

I realize that if all the specials in Street Fighter where performed with a simple button press their power would have to be re-evaluated. I just believe that fighting games in general are better the more they succeed in removing the control barrier between the game world and the players.

What about continuing that line of thought into the actual gameplay itself. Why should I have have to input two whole circles on a controller in order to perform a character's special move?

I think the main argument here can be solved by making a distinction between the 'technical' similarity with real driving and the 'feel' of real driving.

" I can see my car in this game, it sounds like my car, it banks on the corners like my car. It loses its steering grip at the same speed as my car." Those things are all so well simulated that it (apparently) even causes real race drivers to end with realistic track times when playing the game.

But the feel of actually driving = feeling an engine react to the motions of my hands and feet and experiencing the accelaration and braking: I have never felt that when playing a racing game. Not even with a proper setup (wheel and pedals). Hell, not even in a moving arcade installation.

Way to solve an argument, Mooks!