The protagonist of My Hero Academia, Izuku Midoriya has been through quite a journey since the beginning of the anime. Originally a quirkless boy, he becomes All Might's successor, inheriting One For All from the Symbol of Peace.
Many people have argued that All Might may not have made the best choice in picking Izuku, and Mirio Togata would have been better. In reality, there is more than one reason why All Might's decision was correct. At the same time, Izuku could have followed other paths, both of which could have sent different messages and perhaps been more understandable. If he had stayed quirkless, he could have become either a hero or a villain.
10 Should Have Stayed Quirkless: One For All Does Permanent Damage To Him
One for All is an incredibly powerful quirk and Izuku isn't naturally gifted at wielding it. At first, Izuku isn't even able to throw a fist without hurting himself. He seriously hurts his hands in his fight against Shoto Todoroki at the U.A. Tournament, and his confrontation with Muscular doesn't help. Later, he discovers his Full Cowling and Shoot Style, but by then, he's already done permanent damage to himself. It's a sad thing to see and wouldn't have happened if he had stayed quirkless.
9 Should Have Become A Villain: He Was Abused And Persecuted
There's a good reason why so many people in the MHA fandom envision Izuku as a villain. Being quirkless is a curse in the world of My Hero Academia. Ever since his diagnosis, Izuku has been abused and mistreated. His former childhood friend, Katsuki Bakugou, is his worst bully and even suicide-baits him. No one ever does anything to help Izuku. This sort of thing doesn't just go away and should have built into real resentment. Canon Izuku seems to channel his feelings into his determination to become a hero, but that's not really healthy for him either.
8 Should Have Stayed Quirkless: He Could Have Still Become A Hero
The main reason All Might picks Izuku as his successor is his courage and heroic spirit. During the Sludge Villain's attack on Katsuki, Izuku is the only one who intervenes, even if there are three Pro Heroes present. Quirkless and with no real power of his own, he still finds the strength and creativity to help a person in need, even if that person had attacked him the very same day. What truly makes Izuku a hero is his heart – and he still could have been one without One For All.
Granted, in such a quirk-oriented society with villains like All for One and Overhaul around, it would be much tougher for Izuku to make a difference. Quirkless, he would lack the support he needs to grow into what he could become. But the potential was always there. He just needed to be given the chance.
7 Should Have Become A Villain: All Might Would Have Understood The Consequences Of His Actions
All Might may have given Izuku his quirk, but that isn't his original response to Izuku's inquiry. Despite having been quirkless himself, he originally tells Izuku he can't become a hero. In a way, it's understandable, as even with One for All, he suffered a serious injury. But it is still cruel, and on top of everything that happened to Izuku that day, it could have easily made him snap.
After all, it's unfair that someone violent and rude like Katsuki automatically qualifies as heroic, whereas Izuku is deemed an inferior life form. With his hero shattering his dreams, Izuku could have abandoned his final hopes and embraced a life of crime.
6 Should Have Stayed Quirkless: He Could Have Proven Quirkless People Deserve To Be Respected
Regardless of Izuku's chosen path, Izuku's quirklessness wouldn't automatically mean he has no worth. In fact, if he had remained without a quirk, he could have proven quirkless people deserve to be respected.
In some ways, Izuku shouldn't have to carry that kind of responsibility for the rest of his life. Even Melissa Shield, who has her father David's support, only encounters limited success in earning people's respect. But that is exactly why this is important. Izuku's incredible determination – the thing that has helped him most in his life as a hero – could have fueled him if he had stayed quirkless too.
5 Should Have Become A Villain: Villains Could Have Easily Seen Izuku's Potential
With the amount of discontent existing in hero society, villains are always on the lookout for promising recruits. Izuku would have definitely been a worthy addition to any villainous organization. All for One or Overhaul could have easily extended their hand to Izuku that fateful day, and if that had happened, Izuku may have followed a very different, more violent path.
4 Should Have Stayed Quirkless: He Could Have Given Other Quirkless People Hope
Most people in MHA have quirks, but 'most' doesn't include everyone. There are countless others like Izuku who are mistreated and abused. If Izuku had become a quirkless hero, he could have given them hope. He could have been what All Might was – but for the forgotten, for the people who always fall through the cracks. Someone with Izuku's intensity could have even started a revolution if he had wanted to.
3 Should Have Become A Villain: It Would Have Given Redeemable Villains Someone Else To Follow
Becoming a quirkless hero could have brought quirkless people hope, but it may have also given some villains someone else to follow and believe in. The Hero Killer Stain would have at the very least acknowledged and respected Izuku's position, even if he is an unrepentant murderer. People like Twice, Spinner, or even Himiko Toga, who are persecuted for their quirks, would have seen him as a kindred spirit.
Even Dabi would have empathized with Izuku's situation, as he himself has a background of abuse. It seems unlikely that a shy, quirkless child could lead an organization of volatile people, but stranger things have happened. If nothing else, he would have been more approachable than Tomura Shigaraki.
2 Should Have Stayed Quirkless: He Could Have Made Better Use Of His Intelligence
An unfortunate consequence of Izuku receiving One for All is that he seems to use the natural intelligence he's gifted with far less than he should. His tendency to analyze quirks is still there, and interestingly enough, he shines all the brighter when he uses his resourcefulness in the Sports Tournament instead of his quirk. Even so, particularly in the beginning, Izuku models himself heavily after All Might.
By season five, he starts to outgrow this tendency, even surpassing All Might as he learns to use the quirks of past users of One for All. But he's still much too reckless, and he doesn't completely understand the true value of his intelligence. If he had stayed quirkless, he could have perhaps learned how to surpass this and used his innate skills better.
1 Should Have Become A Villain: Izuku's Acceptance Sends The Wrong Message
Izuku's noble character and ideals are among the most remarkable things about him, but all things considered, they're not very realistic. In a way, they also send the wrong message. Katsuki Bakugou eventually apologizes to Izuku, but there aren't any real consequences for his actions, beyond his own feelings of remorse. The systemic abuse of the quirkless isn't addressed in any way after Izuku receives One for All.
It suggests that it's all right to hurt someone as long as they are different, a mentality that is unfortunately already too powerful in our society. If Izuku had become a villain – and actually succeeded to revolutionize society – it would have been a little more clear that abuse doesn't just go away. Trauma has side effects, and sometimes, society itself has to suffer for the crimes it has committed.