Byleth works nothing like Roy/Marth,
However those two are pretty much clones. The main issue with FE fighters is that two of them are functionally so similar that a normal person isn't going to care, and two of them have echo fighters too - it wouldn't be anywhere near as bad if they played more differently.
I can guess why the two series you mention don't have more reps though.
When you look at Mario, the characters are pretty much consistent- it's usually just Mario, Peach, Bowser etc so it doesn't get a new character each entry. Sure you might get a Rosalina every now and then but unless we get a mainline Mario where the other main character isn't a hat ghost, there's not usually anyone new to add. You could probably get away with adding Toad or something at some point in a new game I guess.
I'd almost use the same argument for Zelda- a few years ago I'd have said that there's only *really* focus on three recurring characters that aren't like, gods or trees or whatever, and that you generally get recurring races more than anything, but it's not as bad as it used to be - Impa's gotten about quite a bit now, and I suppose Vaati was in a few games ages ago but who is there other than that, Tingle? Actually that'd cause terrible amounts of salt, I love it.
I think the main reason that FE gets more reps is because it's not basically 3-4 characters, and there's no main character for the whole series, which is why they keep being added in. I don't necessarily agree that it's a great idea, and I think it was at its worst when Smash 3DS got three reps, but I guess it is what it is.
FE fell into a perfect storm of Echo Fighters and 'Everyone is Here'
By sales/fame, there's no way it should have so many reps that take up devspace and up till brawl, it worked fine, Marth + Most Recent Lord. Looking at the cast, the repetition isnt huge either
>Marth- Quick and light swordfighter
>Roy- Slower, stronger Marth.
>Ike- Big bruiser
>Robin- Mage character
>Lucina- Marth clone, no tipper
>Corrin- Unique swordfighter, very unorthodox moves
>Chrom- Roy remix with Ike elements
>Byleth- Bruiser with varied moveset
The fact you can name 3 characters in that list as clones is absurd for a B tier franchise, thats as many as all of Donkey Kong. I dont personally have a problem with variants of units, but for people who want variety, its going to grate
The vitriol to FE starts with Corrin anyway. Fates wasn't out in the west by the time of the announcement so the shillpick-ness of it was blatant. Also, it was announced the same day as the Fighter Ballot results, which I think is more it.
Between the Ballot and Cloud, the Rosterfags had reached critical mass with their wild guessing and getting their hopes up, so when they saw Bayonetta, not their pick and some another FE character, they lash out. And from there into Ultimate, the rosterfags only became more insufferable.
Roy and Lucina can be easily trimmed (make her a Marth costume like how Alph is an Olimar costume) to appease both sides.
The series is moving further from 'blue hair sword lord' anyway, so at least future shillpicks will be varied. Lets hope for an MC who starts on a Wyvern
