Super Mario Kart also has cheap rubberband AI who infinite spam items whenever they feel like it. I'd rather have a fair, slower game than that type of crud frankly. Besides, Super Mario Kart's controls are ass compared to the newer Mario Kart games.
And by the way, items ARE part of skill in Mario Kart game. Smart use of items is much more important in Mario Kart than you think. Sure, it's luck-based at points, but most of your races are won not only by good driving, but smarter use of items as well. Really, the only times I lost in Mario Kart 7 are ALWAYS the Spiny Shell at the worst opportune moments, but it's something we all expect as the Spiny Shell is a hated but necessary item for balancing places. Besides, the Spiny Shell moments are quite rare compared to times I've won the race, triple star ranked. The worst I get are 2 star ranks these days. Even if I get blasted by a Spiny Shell near the finish line, the worst I usually get is 2nd place, but I
never have a silver trophy in Mario Kart 7. That's unspeakable for me.
If you read the article I posted, perhaps it could give you insight to how Mario Kart 8 might feel? This part intrigues me by the way
First place no longer equals least weapons, and vice versa
Are you the kind of Mario Kart player whos there for the fun rather than the racing? The kind who happily ambles around the track, bouncing off walls and only doing drifts because you like the little jump animation that comes before it? Are you unable to see optimum angles, or feel the ideal timing for a drift-boost? You are? Well then youre almost certainly also the sort of player who hangs around at the back of the pack waiting for the better weapons to drop. And youre now in for a big surprise.
Mario Kart 8 has no truck with that kind of nonsense. It seems to be eroding the franchises usual system of saving the better weapons (red shells, triple-mushrooms, lightning, etc.) for crap drivers. there is still a degree of scaling going on, the full spectrum of tools and power-ups is now spread much more equally throughout the grid, making top-ranking play more tense and reducing the safety net for those trailing. Its all much more democratic, and entirely changes the flow of the racing.