Personal opi is cool.
The reason why I asked is because the way I see it is there are 3 phases of the game at any given time: Advantage, neutral, disadvantage. These 3 situations are unique to each character, therefor unique to each match-up. The 3 situations come with options (buttons). These 3 situations also come with risks and rewards to further complicate the tree. In my head, there is a huge amount of information to take in very quickly at any given frame of the game to make a 'winning' move / decision.
My point:
The way I see it is neutral and disadvantage states vs Johnny and Slayer are far too risky given the buttons that HOS has at level 1 which is most of our play; however, the advantage state is very beneficial at level 1. I call it 'respecting the character' when you sit there and defense properly until an opening presents it's self (neutral state) and you can go from there to an advantage state by using advantage moves like 5p and lv2 stuff.
Support:
I went back and watched a Sanma vid and I saw some similar logic. (http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm20667049) He back dashes a lot. He keeps his distance, which is about 3/4th screen. This to me means he respects Johnny's neutral / advantage state. Lot's of blocking and defense. He isn't really putting a lot of pressure on Johnny and he is trying to charge up as much as possible with out putting himself in the disadvantage state.
Conclusion:
I would change 'underwhelming' to wise / cautious. I am ok with being underwhelming while playing Slayer and Johnny because I respect them a lot. Fk both of their 6p's and Fk Johnny's 2S and fk Slayers 2D / Stomp / 5p / invinc dandy / cross-wise. I feel much more comfortable going all out vs Pot or Anji etc. etc... We have an Axle player over here as well. The beginning... 20 seconds of every match I am full defense, but when I find that opening, I don't let up. Gotta go in, block burst, and no gunblazing away because you need to stay in.
If my logic is different from yours, by all means, explain.