Honestly, I think a lot of the top competitive games get that way simply because a lot of people play them and, over-time, analyzed each mechanic down to an understandable metagame. Counter-Strike is definitely like that; 90% of the weapons are absolutely never used in competitive play, and half of the rest only come out with really creative buying strategies.

My favorite is Smash Bros. 64 because it doesn't have the unpredictable randomness the other games have, when one good player beats another you can understand and appreciate exactly why it happened. There's nothing better than a room full of your closest friends screaming "oh trout" over and over at the same time.

I understand why Melee is a lot of people's favorites, and I enjoy the crap out of both sequels myself. I'm surprised Brawl is the highest one on your list, I thought most people felt it was the weakest. I thought it tried too hard to make every level dynamic and that took away from the competitiveness of it.