So, I've been wondering about this for a while, but I finally decided to post it now that I don't have to worry about unexpectedly hitting my 1k.
What kind of skill difference do you need to beat someone playing a strong champion with a weaker champion (assuming no jungle interference, etc)?
The only reason I'm wondering this is because I don't enjoy playing any of the flavor of the month champions. I don't like picking Jax, Irelia, or Olaf for top lane every game (in fact, I don't own them), I don't like picking Katarina or a Katarina counter every time I play mid lane just to not lose in champion select, and I don't like losing bot lane every ranked game because the opposing AD carry is Ezreal and I am...not Ezreal. 
So, if I'm playing someone slightly underpowered, like Kennen, who deals fine damage and has TONS OF UTILITY (tm) but is squishy and has to dive into the middle of a team to do anything, how much better to I have to be to beat that Katarina who gets free ability resets if ANYBODY dies, is deceptively tanky, and gets free damage reduction to win trades.
Or what about top lane, where the holy quadrangle of Irelia, Jax, Olaf, and Darius have shut out all other tops from regular use in competitive play. Is it really possible for me as Rumble or Renekton to beat somebody with equal skill as one of them?
I don't know, I just feel like League has fallen into the rut of:
-top lane: Irelia/Darius/Jax/Olaf
-mid lane: Katarina OR Katarina counter
-bot lane: Ezreal+any support OR Graves+Taric/Leona
-Jungle: Tanky support junglers
Since I don't play ANY of those champions (I just bought Katarina to hop on the FREELO TRAIN CHOOOOOO CHOOOOOOO), I'm getting frustrated with this game. Why should I have to buy EVERY ONE of the overpowered champions just to not lose at champion select? There must be a better solution to balance then creating a meta of "pick these champions or lose at champion select". Or, we could just nerf everyone who counters that meta (DIANA).
Is there any hope for non FoTM picks in Season 3? Unfortunately, the answer looks like no.
(sorry for rambling, I'm just frustrated right now)