Chat and Max are technically optional PCs. In practice it's a matter of talking to them if they aren't in the party, and they have the same amount of plot and so forth regardless. I have no idea why ToE decided to do it this way <.<
AtL4 Bebedora- Abstain. Whatevs.
BGs- Boot. I sharply remember how long it takes to get writers for it.
SF1- Abstain. Haven't played.
SF2- will be editing in individual rulings as I play the game or until the topic closes, whichever happens first.
SF2 Cameela
SF2 Chaz
SF2 Chester- Keep. Bland but there from the beginning and continually useful despite statistical shortcomings.
SF2 Elric
SF2 Galam
SF2 Gerhalt- Abstain. Very borderline. He's automatic but plotless, very solid but not standout... I dunno. Feels like a good border to me at least, everyone more rankable than Gerhalt can stay!
SF2 Geshp
SF2 Jaha- Keep. Most forgettable of the starters, but still alright.
SF2 Kazin- Keep. Only mage for ages. Really kinda sucks for a while (magic damage is ITD but... otherwise scrubby so far) but still. 'sides, Desoul off some speed. Plenty for Light.
SF2 Kiwi- Boot. Easily missed scrub.
SF2 Lemon
SF2 Luke- Boot. Maaann Luke sucks.
SF2 May- Boot. Optional, plotless, vanilla gameplay worth. Joins before you have a full party so as long as you actually take the five seconds to talk to her you'll use her I guess, but yeah. Not good enough in a low-end draw.
SF2 Rohde- Keep. Plot value is... welll, higher than everyone but Slade and Peter at least!
SF2 Sarah- Keep. Only healer for ages. Promo item seems easy to miss, which hurts, but is clearly legal (two for two unpromoted healers!) so not too bad.
SF2 Sheela
SF2 Slade- Keep. More plot importance than, uh... any other PC anyway >.> I mean, he literally sets off the dominoes of the plot. Plus he's actually good if Magikarp-esque.
SF2 Taya
SF2 Zalbard
SF2 Zeon
SF2 Zynk
ToE- Keep. Except...
ToE Rassius Luine- Boot. ToE just can't support a midgame ARPG boss, as his win/loss record quickly proves.
VPs Freya- Keep. Eh, I didn't find her that bad as VP1, let alone VP2. And 'interp split' is the only thing against her, she's an obvious rank by all other criteria.