But the slow start-ups tho...
I can appreciate the 3x body length normals and if played right, Takeda will have plenty of neutral game coverage...but D'Vorah and Kung Jin have great ranged normals, too. (D'Vorah with her spider leg things and KJ's bow). Takeda isn't the only one with range...while he does have MORE range by half a body, at best, he does take a hit on start-up frames and projectile options. I think it is also important to see how his close range normals' damage is, their range (or his forward movement in strings so backdash isn't a free punish almost) and if he has viable mix-up options.
People see the whips all over the screen with the sparks and forget he has other normals for close up that could make or break him.