when it was still hot at my arcade, I would try to play against the better players all the time. I would get my ass kicked by them, but the closest I got was almost taking out 2 of their fighters. I couldn't learn most of the combos and stuff because at that time it was for DC only and I couldn't be at the arcades as much as I know they were (also they would hold tournies which I would have loved to go to).
I had gotten better and better at it remembering certain things and teams and what not. I would play against the scrubs (you know they were if I can beat them), this one guy who thought he was the shit, and button mashers. I have a lot of memories from those times (hell from when Tekken Tag, Tekken 4, and SC2 were hot as well), but sadly I cant find no one that plays anymore. I have the PS2 version and I would play it a bunch and also grab tourny vids and watch those, but with no one to play against...whats the point?
Last time I played was at the Luxor in Vegas against this 1 big guy who would do the simplest of moves, but would kick your ass. He knew what he was talking about (even though he clamored about there being a part 3...which is utter BS) and it worked for him. I came close to beating him, but my skills had deminished and I was just picking anyone I liked against his main team (Dhalsim, C. America, and someone else I cant remember). This other guy would try to play against him too, but he would lose the same as me (even though it would seem he shouldn't have). It was still fun cause all the games ended being free cause the machine wouldn't work all the time so one of the (hot female) employees had come by and rigged it for us.
I think thats 1 thing I never liked, I could never get a grasp on the arcade sticks instead of mostly playing with a pad, and in the back of my mind is I can beat some of these fools, but I get my ass handed to me or barely win because of that difference.
My fav team though would have to be Sakura, M. Bison, and Ice Man...thing is, I never worked on making up a team that really worked well with one another (talking about assist combos and the like).
Also I found it really easy to win with Cap. Commando, Cable, and Sentinel...they are just too badass.