Can anyone vote on this? Even the noobest of noobs (aka. me)?
I would nominate Rachel as well. I don't claim to know the absolute inner workings of the game or its characters, but reading around, playing the game, Rachel is a really interesting character. Right now, post patch, you have to be an excellent player to take anything with her. Her limited options make so that YOU have to be a good, versatile, adaptive player, you have to know the game and be good at it. Pre-patch, it seems like everyone just got desperate over ONE move and it is a shame that TN took the nerfing bat too far, but I still think she is a good character, if nothing else, for her "uniqueness".
I don't compete, I don't play tournaments and I will never be a pro player, but I enjoy playing with Rachel now; it is hard, it is a challenge and it makes victory feels warranted. I do much more "damage" and have a MUCH easier time playing Hitomi, Momiji, Helena or Tina, but it doesn't feel as good as winning with Rachel.