The arguments posted by tehnikhil in the thread on SF.
Thought I'd post it here in case anyone didn't see it there. I am in agreement.
Oh, and also, why is it that Oliver>Snacky? I know most people are like "staff use FTW" and all, and that was why Pelleas>Snacky for awhile, but since Oliver's only action will be in endgame, where you already have a forced staffer there anyways, doesn't that devalue him greatly? Is he even that good of a fighter? Snacky is, for one, forced for all her chapters, so she isn't taking anyone else's spot when fighting, and she works well as team with Siggy softening while she kills during 4-P/3. In 4-E, she may be majorly devaluded, but she still does just as much chip damage as Oliver will do.
It really seems that the main arguement for Oliver and snacky is this: 2 chapters of mediocrity vs. backup staff user.
1. That snacky/Siggy combo works for both of her chapters, and it really helps that neither are gimped by the sand.
2. In endgame, she will probably be picking off others' trash or making trash for others to pick off, but she may not be able to do this too much. As you said, she does this better than Oliver due to higher mag and better tomes.
3. One really can't consider Oliver's staff utility "unique" in any real sense. Often times, an extra staff user is brought into endgame anyways (usually Elincia, but there are 7 others+elincia, at least 6 of them which are perfect feasible), so it isn't like his staff using is irreplaceable. And, of course, we have mickey who won't spend her time fightign and instead be doign Oliver's job, but with more staff action and actual potential to be good. So... yeah, that is why I say Oliver down.
Thought I'd post it here in case anyone didn't see it there. I am in agreement.