No shame: I adore Mai and her ample-ness. Maybe it's because I want to have a body like hers. *laughs* (And it's also because she's hot.) If SNK didn't have such a fantastic roster of female characters, she might bother me, but they do, and so I'm able to love an over-the-top gal like her while also loving someone like Charlotte, who is her complete opposite.
Favorite SNK character is so tough. Might indeed be Char, but absolute top might be Blue Mary. I'm not even a huge fan of her movesets, and I have to forgive her for being a dog lover, but I just so adore her character design.
Play-wise, Shermie is so great, but there's so many others I also love. KOF '98 Mai is the greatest, Yuri, King, Kyo, MOTW Terry, Kensou, Ukyo, Kaeda, Akari, Yuki, Shizumaru, Nakoruru. Way too many more to list.
Picking a favorite background is impossible. Way, way too many options. SNK did things with sprites and pixel art that still seems impossible at times. Samsho II's Versailles stage still holds a special place in my heart, though.
Seriously, though, so, so, so many amazing backgrounds across the Neo Geo's lifespan.