@Robby:
I'm willing to bet if you go in and do an actual panel count for the arc, Bart and Cavendish will be almost exactly the same in screentime, and amount of dialogue and interaction.
And chapters where they're introduced at the same time, and chapters where they are both named at the same time and billed as equals, and presented as opposites of the same spectrum..
I'll take you up on that challenge when I have time.
@Robby:
You like Bart so you're adding extra weight and significance to his scenes, but Cavendish has had just as many.
No. The fact is he's been a part of two pretty big events in Luffy's life and no one else can claim that. I mean, there was no reason for him to be there when Sabo showed up other than that's what Oda wanted. He also worked his whole purpose for setting sail around Luffy's proclamation at Logue Town. Oda didn't have to make him present for those two events, but he chose to. No one else (from this arc or before) can say that. Yes, I like the character and so apparently do thousands of fans since he made Oda's top 10 in the character poll. That doesn't mean I can't be objective. It also doesn't mean that I have to lump him in with everyone else just because he first appear in this arc.
@Robby:
And Rebecca was there two minutes later except for being in the ring.
(And Robin was interacting with Koala and presumably Sabo for two years.)
But she wasn't at Logue Town. My point was he (and not Sai, Cavendish, anyone else) was there for two pivotal moments in Luffy's life, so that makes him distinctly different from every other character that debuted in this arc.
@Robby:
So was Smoker, Alvida, Buggy and Dragon. And half the current strawhats weren't.
That's why I said there's probably some significance to it. He was there when he didn't have to be. Oda chose that as his origin when he didn't have to. He also put him next to Luffy when Sabo showed up, but he didn't have to. That set him apart from any other character you try to bring up.
@Robby:
Cavendish has known about Luffy nearly as long, and disrepected him for it. Chinjao has history going back to Garp.
But Cavendish hasn't been around for anything of significance. He was turned to a toy just like every other gladiator (except Bart and Bellamy) and his only claim is that he wants to be popular. Bart has stated his life's dream and has even gone as far as to put his life on the line for Luffy and Robin. His one on one with Gladius (arguable the strongest non top executive) was sort of pivotal if you look at the page I posted earlier.
@Robby:
So have ALL the big colloseum fighters. Cavendish was even in the same area as Bart also helping Robin. King Punch helped protect Usopp too. And Law…
Yes, Cavendish was in the area, but then what happened? He passed out and it was up to Bart to protect him and Robin while also taking on Gladius. Cavendish defeated no one, Hakuba did. And it was given one panel in comparison to a third of a chapter for Bart.
@Robby:
When Kyros beats one of Dofla's troops, when Sai beats one of them, (and his grandfather swears his family's eternal allegiance to the strawhats) when Bellamy defects, when Viola has helped out, when dwarves have destroyed a factory to help Franky, when a bunch of guys aid Zoro to defeat his baddie, YES. When several of them including Ucy the bull have come to Luffy's aid in a tight spot? When multiple other characters, including Senior Pink of all people, have gotten flashbacks and character developments?
You can't ignore that everyone else has ALSO done stuff and had history. If Bart had been the only one out of that group to fight someone, or the only one to interact with others, you'd have a point. But he isn't.
I never said he was the only one helping. I'm saying he's been around for significant events in Luffy's life, has a stated dream, risked his life to protect more than one Strawhat, and stuff like that. No one else you mention has done those three things. My argument is that those are things that shouldn't just be thrown aside as if he's just another character. The potential is there, far more than it is for anyone else that you've names.