I don't disagree with this, but to me that's the beauty of Smash. The argument for why it's not a fighting game is always "Smash needs to bend its rules to fit something that resembles a 1v1 fighting game" but the truth is you're not actually altering rules or how the game is played because all of these rules are an option. Smash isn't "bending", it's existing as it's designed.I've actually been addicted to online tourneys and such for the last month or so. I can see the necessity and even the fun of Itemless 1-on1s but at the end of the day when stuff about stage bannings gets talked about it's always gonna be like that OCD friend who feels the need to obsessively pick at their food before eating it.
It's also designed to be what you like as well! So maybe the answer should be more tournament options. Let people have fun and compete however they want.