I did go to extreme lengths in the OP to make it clear that SDLuke is the "better" set. However, what you're saying is a little (actually, it's a LOT) like saying SpecsMence is a gimmick because DDMence is more effective.
Your calculations don't hold much weight here. I've posted calculations showing what SpecsLuke can do from the moment he steps into battle, but for whatever reason you've assumed that SDLuke has an automatic +2 Atk everytime he switches in (in one example you've gone as far as to give him +3 Atk...I've yet to see anyone get off two Swords Dances!).
To be fair, a lot of the damage SpecsLuke causes is against incoming switches though so I guess it's fair to assume that in the same situation, SDLuke could use Swords Dance on that switch. However, the lag caused by taking a turn to stat-up means SpecsLuke fares better against just about all of the Pokemon you listed.
Hidden Power [Ice] vs 252/0 Hippowdon = 72.86% - 85.71%
+2 LO Close Combat vs 252/252 Impish Hippowdon = 77.9% - 92.14%
If you Swords Dance while a healthy Hippowdon switches in, you'll CC for some pretty hefty damage but you WILL lose that exchange. However, if SpecsLuke uses Aura Sphere, HP Ice or even Psychic whilst a healthy Hippowdon switches in, it goes without saying who will win.
+2 LO Ice Punch vs 252/252 Impish Gliscor = 149.15% - 176.27%
+2 LO Ice Punch vs 252/252 bold Zapdos = 89.06% - 105.2%
If the opponent switches in Zapdos or Gliscor, you're forced to make a dangerous decision because there's every chance your flying foe will just outspeed you and OHKO. With the advent of Ice Punch Lucario, it seems a little counter-productive to use Gliscor or Zapdos as a counter unless they're running 280 speed because, as your calcs show, they'll just be OHKO'd if they switch in on an SD (last month, around 40% of Zapdos ran high-max speed, whilst just over 20% of Gliscor did the same...I wouldn't be surprised if that increased this month but that's just speculation). SpecsLuke obviously can OHKO both of them (although Zapdos needs to have taken SR damage).
+1 LO Extremespeed vs 216/0 Gyarados = 56.36% - 66.66%
+3 LO Extremespeed vs 216/0 Gyarados = 94.27% - 110.93%
Who runs 216 HP / 0 Def Gyarados? The only Gyarados' that use that much HP are either BulkyGyara or ResTalk Gyara both of which have shedloads of Defense EVs and none (or minimal) SpD EVs which obviously favors SpecsLuke who can 2HKO an incoming BulkyGyara with SR damage factored in, whereas SDLuke would have to Swords Dance the switch before he can 2HKO a 75% BulkyGyara with Extremespeed (+1 LO ES does 45-53%).
+2 LO Close Combat vs 252/252 impish Swampert = 97.52% - 115.09%
The Swampert calculation has worth, I'll give you that...unlike all the other calcs you gave, if Lucario Swords Dances a switch to Swampert, he's almost guaranteed to win. However, the same could be said for SpecsLuke if he Aura Spheres the Swampert switch as it does as much as 70%.
SDLuke is fantastic yes, but nobody is going to agree with you that he has an easier time against physical walls than SpecsLuke.
Another thing you've given little heed to is the fact that SDLuke can only use three attacks. If you opt for CloseCombat/Extremespeed/IcePunch as you have done in your calculations, you'll be walled by Pokemon such as the Rotom formes, Dusknoir and Cresselia. If you go down the CC/ES/Crunch route you'll be walled by the likes of Gliscor, BulkyMence and Zapdos. SpecsLuke has no such problems (edit; adding this to the op because I like it).
You also haven't gave any mention to the fact that SDLuke is constantly losing 10% of his health and cutting his defences each time he uses his STAB attack although I accept that can often be an afterthought.
I hope that those points, combined with that I said in the OP, convince you that SpecsLuke isn't entirely outclassed by his Swords Dancing bretheren. Or at very least, stop you from comparing him to Choice Band Togekiss. :X
Onto a few other posts;
Jumpman16 said:
(You write an awful lot like I do, I've noticed, which I obviously like because I, the mighty Jumpman16, am the best.)
The insecure part of me thinks you're mocking my often excessive use of commas, but I'm definately going to take this one as a compliment regardless. 8)
Cynthia and Bologo said:
I've never been a fan of CMLuke. He's just a little bit too slow, and CM doesn't do enough to patch up his low SpD. If it was Nasty Plot, there'd be a good set in there but CM has never really cut it for me. Having said that, you two are the second and third good battlers to have claimed to have had success with CMLuke in the past few weeks (the other being Stellar) so I'll have to get round to giving him another go sometime.
Taylor said:
words about building a team around SpecsLuke
Honestly, you guys have got to promise to share the results of that with me. I'm still fiddling around to decide how best to incorporate him into a team. The most successful one (got into the standard top 20 within a few days even though I convinced myself I wouldn't actually play Platinum :\) was a rather Stall-esque team that used Pokemon such as Yawn/U-Turn Uxie and a slow Baton Pass Vaporeon to buy Lucario as many free switch-ins as possible. I'd like to see what you guys have got in mind as it's still very much a WIP.
Chill said:
Hahaha, thanks for that. Great stuff.