I'm not really liking 16 team single elim either. 16 teams is already wishful thinking if we're talking in regional terms and 5v5. Last year for the SF4 regional event, there were only 5 or so regions and we all know how big SF4 is. If SF4 can't get 16, can we really expect Melty to get that many?
As time goes on, it's becoming even more of a hassle to decide what regions will get their own teams, which ones will be shared, and the format. I'm inclined to say this would be better off as 3v3. :\
SF4 could've gotten A LOT more than 16 teams easily for a *standard* 5v5, but I doubt he would even bother to try and come up with more than 7 regions and a wildcard to split up.
If we're seriously going to have 16 teams then we could split it up with 8 regions with each region having no more than two teams MAX.
1) Norcal
2) East Coast (NY, PA, NJ, CT, MD, VA, DE, MASS,)
3) South East (NC, SC, GA, MS, AL, FL, TN, KY, AR, LA)
4) Northwest (WA, OR, and Norcal)
5) Midwest (OH, IN, IL, IA, MN, WI, MO, MI)
6) Southwest (Socal, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX)
7) Wildcard
8) International JP, CAN, MEX, EUR
The format was taken from the SF4 regional event and you can check the map yourself to see how I split the regions (yeah I missed some states, but whatever). Not saying this is final or anything, but at least should be considered.
Edit: Reason why I put Norcal by itself is because Norcal could *possibly* form it's own team and team with WA/OR if they choose and why I put Socal with Southwest is because Socal, in it's current state, would not be able to form a team by itself...