Hey, you know, whatever floats your boat, that's the method I think you should use to play the game. If analyzing and deconstructing a game is what gives you your kicks, do it. If playing with items, four players, on scrolling stages, go for it. What does it hurt? So what if you're a "recreational" style player, and you come up against a "tourney" style player in an online match. If they beat you, fine. Your W/L record will be adjusted, and after a few of these matches, you'll be able to choose "Rivals" (or whatever the equivalent is) and you'll have a much better shot at playing against people you like to play with. Consider it "calibrating" the game's online difficulty.
P.S. – Smash gets bonus points for use of the word "transmogrified" in a forum post.