If there's anything I think should be cited from the more recent MK(9) example? It's proof positive that you don't HAVE to be defined by, or otherwise "prove your worth" to the Capcom-centric fighting game community, in order to have a worthwhile competitive venue in your own right. You just have to have players willing to, well, play. Hell, even the game's "quality" can play second banana, as long as you have numbers.
Now, that last line wasn't meant to be jab at MK, SFxT, MvC3 or any other major game out there. But at the same time, if quality, or whatever else quantified the notion of what makes for a "good game" really meant that much to the FCG? Chances are, the likes of VF5 would be getting so much more attention than they do currently.