Also, it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that an Action Replay is a must for this game.

I only ever AR'd Melee to play as non playable characters like Giga Bowser or Master Hand or just to play around in the debug menu. Presumably we'd be able to do the same in Brawl.

I hope (and think) that they will bring back Ganondorf. But instead of him being slow, they should actually make him somewhat fast. After all, he hasn't been "slow" since Ocarina of Time. In Wind Waker and Twilight Princess we have seen a large man with quick reflexes and speed - they should seriously take this into consideration.

GI: Have you been consulted at all for the usage of Link or Sheik or Ganondorf for Smash Bros. Brawl?

Aonuma: I’ve been working with Sakurai for a very long time with this new Smash Bros., because the Wii came out and when discussion for a new Smash Bros. took place nobody could think of anyone other than Sakurai working on it. He was kind of the default, and I was very happy to hear that he would be working on it. Actually, my designers did work on the designs for Sheik and Link and Ganondorf. So they submitted the initial designs, and so it would fit in the Smash Bros. Brawl environment, they’ve had to tweak some of the designs. But Sakurai has brought those altered designs to NCL. We’re working very closely with the team of Smash Bros. Brawl to make sure the characters look their best.

It looks like Sheik and Ganondorf are pretty much confirmed.  I just wonder what version of Ganondorf we'll get in this game.