I hope combo damage reaches respectable levels at best with 0 meter, but can get very daunting if you have more bars, thus forcing your oponent to use his meters to counter-break you will mean you still save yourself some health because his combo can no longer extend as high, if that makes sense?
That will hopefully mean that when you have a life lead and a meter lead the opponent can still turn the tables, or you could bluff him and let him break only to pool your own meter for a seriously damaging follow up, should you catch him.
Game seems good to me so far, hope theres no x factor mechanic coming though, and by god if they put on disc DLC they are digging their own graves.