It doesn't really matter how hard it is to activate JG. Parrying full supers in 3rd Strike was difficult as well, at first. Virtua Fighter is filled with unforgiving input windows, but players adapted to it. If using JG is necessary to compete, players will learn to execute JG properly (or even...
I thought I saw Repel GI used once during the Mits/Sieg match. Hopefully that exhibition was recorded for closer inspection.
As a Taki player I really like Natsu's game so far.
The design is whatever to me, but if they're bothering to keep the dual-bladed ninja motif (instead of just dropping any remnant of Taki altogether in favor of something original), hopefully the new character is as good as Taki or better.
I'm not holding my breath at all, but at least another Namco producer unofficially endorses SC having an arcade presence. That's better than rationalizing excuses for not making an arcade edition.