I think the difference between Kano and the other 4 is he has to work harder, as funny as that sounds lol. He requires a lot more meter than the other 4 to be effective, and pretty much needs a bar at all times to be at his best. Also he gets out done in the footsie department by Mileena, Takeda, and Alien, while requiring more meter than they do. His stupid 50/50's still require a bar, and 2 bars if they guess right the first time, while Sonya cranks out uber damage off the same stupidity meterless. While also having uber whiff divekick a Jip of doom and etc.
CT Kano is stupid, very stupid, but not in the Alien/Mileena way, and more of the D'Vorah/Johnny way imo. Where there's at least a semblance of weakness in there. I could definitely see why you'd place him though, because he's dummy dumb either way.