To understand why Leo believed a pirated copy was superior to the genuine article, you have to understand the state of his laptop. "The Beast," he called it, though the name was ironic. It was a budget Acer from three years ago, thermal-throttling if he looked at it wrong.
Sure, he couldn't play online ranked matches. He would have to use third-party software like Evolve or Hamachi to play with friends, which was a hassle. But online was filled with lag-switchers and rage-quitters anyway. And the offline modes—the Arcade mode, the Trials, the endless training—were all perfectly intact. ultra street fighter 4 fitgirl better
The Enduring Appeal of the "Repack": Why Ultra Street Fighter IV FitGirl Remains a Community Staple To understand why Leo believed a pirated copy
To decide which is better, you have to look at what you lose when you go unofficial. Sure, he couldn't play online ranked matches
If you love the game, buy it on sale for $5 to support Capcom. Then install the FitGirl repack to actually play it.
These versions typically include all DLCs, costumes, and the "Omega Mode" update by default.