How is it useful when you just murder everything in one-two hits? Taking in game damage will never matter, unless you are under leveled. Therefore, intimidate is a waste.
Because most things that you don't hit SE will go down in 2 hits or more. And that means they get a shot at you. That damage will add up, especially in Scyther's case with its huge number of weaknesses.
Incidentally, what exactly would you consider underleveled?
Fly has no value in battle, because it can 1) miss and 2) takes 2 turns - another time waster. The argument for HM whoring is not sound either, because Scyther can reasonably run 3 HMs, and there are plenty of Pokemon with access to fly + other HMs (e.g. Giratina).
5% miss chance is negligible, and it gives Staraptor a 90BP Flying move. 2 turns is really nothing, and Return is your primary attack anyways. Meanwhile, not using HM slaves is idiotic. Why stick your main pokemon with useless moves when you can just bag a Bidoof and a Bibarel to have 6 out of the 7 useful HMs?
There is no difference between BB and Scyther's WA. They will both OHKO everything. Therefore, the recoil is time wasting in two ways; directly, and also forcing you to heal more often.
They'll OHKO everything? You must be seriously overlevelled. Anything with a reasonable amount of defense not being hit SE will generally take at least 2 hits. Though Brave Bird will have a much better chance at scoring OHKOs.
I am not suggesting that you go for great IVs, but certainly something reasonably good (16+ attack and speed) is fine to aim for.
16+ can be easily checked at level 5, and Starly is much easier to catch than Scyther. If you want to do this, Starly has the advantage.
Or you could... trade? Or go on an abra catching spree on the rainy route? It is all optional anyway.
Hmm, didn't realize we allowed trading. Though I specifically did not mention Abra because they're even harder to catch than Ralts, and unlike Ralts, you can't tell in advance which ones have Synchronize.
The extra lines from CC's side effect is another time waster. Scyther does enough with its own fighting options, with or without swords dance - consider that CC and rock smash are only used when super effective. Electric pokemon have low defense, or you could just use something else.
Switching takes time, too, you know, as does using SD. Staraptor can also deal with Electrics through STAB Return (or, of course, CC for Magneton). Scyther's fighting options consist of Rock Smash and Brick Break, which is quite frankly awful.
No. With Tech, Scyther only needs wing attack. Late game, it also has swords dance access. It sets up and sweeps. They are both S, but Scyther is the most S tier Pokemon in this generation.
And late-game, Staraptor just sweeps. No setup needed (which, what do you know, takes time, too). Scyther has a good early game, but it gets rather mediocre in the middle to late game. While its offense is acceptable with Swords Dance, it doesn't get that until level 57, which you may not even be at when you get to the E4.
You really seem to overestimate Scyther's usefulness. Again, I could see it joining Chimchar and Starly in S-tier, but it's not "the most S-tier Pokemon in this generation". It's doubtful it's better than Starly, and Chimchar is clearly better.
