If you look at it that way, you have to ask why characters like Gambit etc, or more classic characters like Beast and Angel werent in the first X-Men film.
Because at the end of the day, they are not as popular as Wolverine. C'mon, I loved the first X movie, but the focus was more on Wolvie for a reason. You make it classic v. popular and polpular is going to win each time, because - for example - an X movie with Logan is going to bring in more money than one without. It just so happens that Batman and Superman are both popular and classic.
But thats not your argument. Your argument is that "as a fan girl" you expect them to be in it! Why would not an X-Men fanboy/girl/Elsia not expect the same?
The lineup used in X-Men was not the line up used in the "more popular than Superman or Batman" comics or the line up used in the "popular" cartoons!
