I don't think the full magnitude of Snake being cut has hit me yet.
I like many of the characters in Smash Bros., but Snake is a character I adore. And I say that as a casual MGS fan at best. Even though MGS isn't my favorite series, I've always loved Snake himself. The working-stiff attitude, the genuine love for his comrades, the paradoxical blend of a tortured soul and a sense of levity.
And like I said before, I always take the pacifist approach in his games. My Snake is a badass who avoids killing, who uses stealth to achieve his goals in a blood-free fashion. Figuring out how to avoid confrontation or outsmart enemies so you can defeat them without killing them made me view Snake as a real hero. It also feels like the truest interpretation of his character, since war isn't the life he would've chosen, it was the life chosen for him.
Having that real hero in Smash was wonderful. That, along with the tone he brought, wholly unique on the roster, and the brand of humor he brought, also one of a kind. Snake will be missed. Here's hoping he returns as DLC.