As for items, here are my main points without all the jumbo.

1) Items are not skill devoid, they take practice to master
2) Claiming items arent fair IS NOT an excuse for not learning how to
defend against them or banning them.
3) You actually give up attack options in grabbing an item, the swap
being your smash attacks and throws and ground a attacks for the
ability to toss or use the item.
4) Options for defending the item are numerous. It can be as simple
as put up your shield, down dodge them, jump over your opponent and
counter attack, duck under the ledge when coming back from a hit and
grab the ledge from below so you wont get hit, etc.
5)Items do not lessen the competitve enviorment by being there in
themselves.
6) Items were meant to deepen the already incredibly robust core game
engine(new attack and defense options, you do change your defense
when playing with them on)
7)Items are not a crutch!!! Nobody is going to win you because of an
almighty superitem(See 8, we do ban the major items that are just
unfair)
8) We do play with ridiculous items off like starman and heart, so
there is no reason to ban the ones that actually contribute to the
game