But it also beats quite a lot, is my point. You can cover yourself and beat a lot of what random opponents do. I'm not speaking of long set play with someone, but random ranked insanity. Even even in long set play, its a valid opening when used sparingly and correctly. Like any opening, you're either making a read, or just throwing something out and seeing what happens. I didnt say starting with 5H was the only, or best, way to open, or that it was perfect. It's just a strong option.
I never said, or meant to imply, that playing 16 is braindead, or that you played him that way. No character played at a high level is braindead because that doesn't work vs good players. The issue with 16 is that he can be played braindead and get by with a lot and when played intelligently, by good players, he's even stronger.