The thing about short hops is that you had an option to extend a stun (punch while short hopping) or knock down an opponent (kick while short hopping) while at the same time evading lows. If anything, it was a good countermeasure against sweeps.
Free Step Dodge
Camel with 2 thumbs
Back when low crushes actually crushed lows, not like in doa5 where you can be high enough to touch the ceiling and somehow you still get 1p'ed out of the air
In fact, fuck it, if we're going that far, bring back 3 way short hopping ala Original DOA2 style baby, loved that shit, didn't have much utility (outside of tengu, that muther fucker could clear 3/4 screen with his hop!) but it was fun to have