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Subjectively speaking? They were all shit looking stage 3s with the exception of Serperior.
Objectively? They were shit, and outclassed several times over by Pokemon found later. Why would you ever pick up Tepig when you can get Darmanitan? Why pick up Oshawott when you can pick up Starmie? Why Snivy when there is Lilligant?
You shouldn't be dependent on your starter, a la D/P/Pt, but they should be reliable, unlike Gen 2/5. Gen 1 and 3 were the only ones to get a mix of both worlds correct.