I just got into a discussion about this with a friend, so I thought I'd take it here. What's your favorite stage to work with? Personally, I think the pirate ship is the most perfectly designed stage I've ever seen in the series. A full wall, full edge, 2 mostly breakable rails, and a floor that's big enough that all that could just as easily not matter. You can have your wall combos, your random screwup loss, and have to work a little bit for the rails (either lifting over them or breaking them off first). The only other stage like it is from Star Wars, but the floor seems a little small. The size could just be my perspective, though.
By the way, to anyone who suggests the closed-in stages, screw you.
By the way, to anyone who suggests the closed-in stages, screw you.