Mileena does with Kung Lao what you accurately described (i.e., strings into low hat, 50/50 mix up using strings with overheads, charged low hat into unsafe special moves that become safe, hard-to-blockables, etc.), which is also what a sizeable portion of the roster does. The game needs more character and kameo variety.
I think a lot of people agree with you. I do also agree with crimson to some degree that other styles exist like Foxy's Kitana + Lao zoning/escape but it's obvious that Rushdown is prevalent in MK1, the other styles like Sub Zero using stop pressure moves, clone was simply not allowed to live even though other tools are far more powerful than having someone have to stop mashing mix on you for 2 seconds with 5 seconds cooldown on using it again.
I think some other styles should be buffed and Kameos that augment those styles should be elevated. We know that some competitive players and many many casuals complained about Zoning, and Sub Zero style of defensive/zoning/runaway and it got neutered.
Yes we have Ashrah as a good neutral character and we have Kitana as a Zoner but most characters are not. They made Rain as the "Premier Zoner" according to Kombat Kast and they failed miserably, he simply isn't very good comparative to what S+ because of his very slow startups along with not having Cyrax to cover gaps in his longer range moves and Armor. Every character is a single move from being in your face in MK1 and that can change with block advantage and recovery changes on projectiles while allowing Flawless Block to nullify it forcing opponent to play good to get in.
I remember in MK11 everyone complained about Jade zoning and multiple games complained about Subs defensive playstyle then NRS made Sub Zero Unbreakable in X a Rushdown archetype and everyone lost their shit, then it was a problem Sub was a strong Top Tier and it didn't matter if he was defensive, corner trap artists or Rushdown.
I just think these whiners need to STFU because they have no clue what they want, they just wanna complain about what beats them without labbing their options. If they can't instantly be in your face it's "annoying and needs to go".
I remember back in MK9 the pros would play against strong tactics even when it stumped them for the challenge, they would use their favorite character even if it was lower tier, they didn't try to gut entire gameplay styles out of existence. I don't see that today.
I love Dragon, Sonic and Xombat and Rewind but I've seen concerning things. People asked for nerfs to Johnny, Lao hat and a few other things. They said no it's holding the cast together that Cyrax should be reverted to 1 BAR then I see Dragon posting a few weeks later that Stryker is dumb and needs nerfed.
Pig who I respect, a very good player that's pretty intelligent was defending Kenshi but then saying Sindel was broke and needs nerfs even though it's Lao hat that makes her top tier, he was going after Sindel as base char.
The overall theme I see is nerf your character but not mine. I think most of these players are generally level headed and correct what they say eventually when others challenge them. And don't get me wrong if it wasn't for Dragon, Sonic, Xombat, Rewind and Tweedy speaking up I think the direction would be Gut everything.
What scares me is when top players who know better let Salt get the best of them and NRS sees this, they may not always cater to pros but when 1 million Casuals complained about it and then they see 3-4 Top 15 players complain about the same thing it gets kind of worrisome because I can see NRS nerfing it or considering it.
I think we need more strength in veriety of gameplay styles, they exist but one is far more powerful than the others. And damn the haters who will complain no matter what styles are in the game.
