I'd be pretty bummed if there isn't eventually a PC port. Even if I somehow were able to find a handful of people willing to play the game, if I were to decide to enter a tournament I'd be at a severe disadvantage because of my lack of matchup experience. Netplay would at least allow people practice for the game as a whole. Not to mention like it or not, for some it's the most practical option.
Not everyone's priorities have video game tourneys at the top of the list.. so driving two hours to play casuals is not something most would consider a good idea. It is a shame that people aren't willing to come out to gatherings when they have access to the subway like in NYC. Except for those without a car/not willing to spend gas/time to travel to play games it's asking too much.
I'm under the situation where the only tourneys that are held for games are in a complete different state, which is not accessible to someone like me without a car. Also, most worthy gatherings are done in Baltimore, which I can't access via metro. Plus, my college classes end at times where I would arrive pretty late at the gatherings anyways, not to mention I'd catch rush hour traffic...
This is just an example of someones situation, and why they choose not to waste their time traveling for gaming. Many of you are blessed with living in areas with thriving fighting game communities with at least one decent arcade, and you have the audacity to tell people that they have to travel in order to play casuals....
That's not to say that you don't obviously bring up good points, but this is really a pointless debate since it might be that netplay could have fractured a community, but what does that say about the game itself? Doesn't sound like it makes much of an impression on most. That doesn't mean it's a bad game. It's just when people weigh their options. It seems they rather settle with enjoying casual games online, even with shitty delay, and all that.
Plus, I'm being a realist here...SFIV people are not gonna play this game, period. You aren't going to get many people to play this, and come out for it, anyways. Cuz frankly....America is about SF and Tekken, and that's life. I mean I'm not pleased about that, but what can I do about it? lol
I mean it's what I currently do for 3s (GGPO) since I'm not gonna take the chinatown bus to NYC just to play people on a cab with HAPP parts
(I actually have lol)