>>36859713Because they're shitty implementations of the long-standard video game practice of preventing you from accessing places the devs don't want you to be at yet. Same reason as the game requiring you to get all 8 badges or beat all the Kahunas before you can challenge the Elite Four. The reason is people are stupid and would walk right up to the E4 from Pallet Town, get their ass kicked, get confused, blame the game, and dump it.
