Maybe they could actually make the game give actual stats that affect items or something. Like a stat that affects how hard a blue shell hits or a stat the increases your chance of getting a good item in a higher position. As it stands it's like the stats on the karts are designed with a more realistic racer in mind, which Mario Kart is not, never was, and hopefully never will be.
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http://i.imgur.com/FDwwl.gif