I hope many of you read this, because it concerns an issue that involves
anyone who has or is going to try to rate cards.  Here is Bobbyphills's (or,
Prof. Oak's) card rating system's biggest drawback!  It works a whole lot
better than the old method of scoring a point for which has better attacks or
HP or whatever, and I kind of agree with his article, but like any "perfect"
system there is a flaw here.  Bobby's rating system has a lot of judgment
calls, and opinions are almost certainly going to get in the way.  In his
article he rated Charizard 4.4.  Aerodactyl 13 rated it 9.6.  That's a pretty
big difference there, and I'm sure from reading some of Aerodactyl's other
articles about Charizard that his opinion on the lizard clashes with
Bobbyphills's. 
    Now, the reason for the problem is this: with the old, inaccurate system
the better of the two is normally fairly obvious.  The new system has a scale
instead of one or the other being the winner.  Judgement call.  Importance of
different weaknesses and resistances, as well as the card type.  Judgement
call.  Versatility, speed, attacks...  This system takes a lot more
intelligence than the old way, and opinion has more impact.  This is bad,
since opinion isn't always right.  Just read some of the other strategy
articles (I'm not saying they're all bad, but some of them are pretty bad. 
Some talk about incorrect usage, like the 90 damage scyther, and some are
overlooking a major point or just don't make sense.  Some just have obviously
incorrect opinions.  No offense to anyone). 
    My advice to you is, DON'T TRY TO ATTACH A NUMBER TO CARDS!!!  As of
right now, at least, there is no perfect way to do it.  Different cards work
in different ways in different types of decks in different situations!  The
hardest thing to put a number on is how the card works with the metagame,
what kind of deck it works in, and how that type of deck works with the
metagame.  I find instead of attaching a number to cards, It's better just to
think about it's usefulness in general.  You know what I'm talking about if
you read my article on how not to compare cards from Feb. 1st.  Right now,
for example, Hitmonchan has lost a lot of potential.  Almost every Haymaker
out there has Promo Mewtwo, and most have some Scyther.  Scyther has lost
some potential with the high usage of Energy Removals out there now, as well
as the short-lived Magmar decks, which seem to have been replaced by Mewtwo. 
Also, you need to think about not only what cards are popular, but what
archetypes.  A card can be real good in a certain deck, but maybe that deck
won't play well right now.  The best way to judge cards is your own
experience, because when you actually play a game with the card you see pros
and cons you overlooked.
    Try to remember this, because it really annoys me when I see people try
unsuccessfully to rate cards.  I'm about ready to save one of these rants and
email them to all of these people...  They just can't get it in their
heads...  Anyway, comments, questions, hatemail, suggestions, and deck fixes
go to Souper@Pojo.com

                                           ~ Souper ~

P.S.  In case any of you are wondering, I don't like Ninetales or Charizard. 
I'd probably use Ninetales first, though.  Once again, opinion comes in.