So I've played at least every game from each generation. The one thing I think hasn't been mentioned yet is that both pokemon and the system its played on have become significantly more complicated. Generation one had no natures or abilities or extra modes or any of that, and was played on a console that had two buttons. Now we've got consoles with at least 6 primary buttons and a touch screen, with hidden and available features. I can understand the idea of simplifying it for newer/younger players. I don't agree with flat out removing some features (bikes, non-gen one evolutions of gen one pokemon, weird gym requirements) but I understand the idea