Yes he should be in the Hall. I wouldn't even bring up the character clause either. Plenty of players without character. I'm sure many in the hall as well. Press did not report on players then like they do now.
My question is why do guys like Steve Howe get 8 separate lifetime suspensions (for drug use) and continue to be allowed back into the game, but Rose gets one and it is so sacrosanct that it can never be revisited? I would think that setting an example for youth and baseball regarding drug use is at least as important as the gambling issue.
Also, didn't Rose gamble while he was a manager and not a player? Ban him as a manager, but not a player. Either way, he should be in IMHO.
I have been the the Hall. They have a Pete Rose display there with his uni, shoes, bat, helmet, etc... including a life size cardboard cut out of him. They talk about the record as part of the display. Seems a little hypocritical to allow all his stuff into the Hall, but not him.