There are a lot of great Capcom characters:
Strider Hiryu
(Strider)
Morrigan (The original Sucubus)
(Darkstalker Games)
Akuma
(Street Fighter)
M. Bison (You know how many copy-cats there are?)
(Street Fighter)
Dhalsim (same as M. Bison)
(Street Fighter)
Chun-Li
(Street Fighter)
Guile
(Street Fighter)
And other fighting game characters:
Iori
(King of Fighters)
Terry Bogard
(King of Fighters)
Especially characters from Samurai Showdown!
Here for more fighting game characters, heh:
http://www.gamegen.com/fightgen/characters.html
As for other RPGs:
Lenneth Valkyrie
(Valkyrie Profile)
Arngrim
(Valkyrie Profile)
Lezard Valeth
(Valkyrie Profile)
Fei
(Xenogears)
Vyse
(Skies of Arcadia)
Chaz Ashley
(Phantasy Star IV)
Rune Walsh
(Phantasy Star IV)
Dark Force
(Phantasy Star I-IV)
Profound Darkness
(Phantasy Star IV)
Serge
(Chrono Cross)
Crono
(Chrono Link)
Yuber and Luca Blight, as shown by Crono are also good
Methinks 90% of these characters could take 50% of thise "seasons" lineup, as far as character design and quality. Popularity... maybe not, because a lot of the "gamers" here aren't very seasoned, heh.