>>40617532I’m pretty sure starters themselves are meant to be simplistic to get the idea across to children.
They’re supposed to be “relatable” so kids can form a bond with their partner, especially if they look like a grownup version of the cute animal that they started out as, I believe Sugimori made a statement of this.
A starter with over complex details is too “alien” for children and is potentially “scary” in an unfamiliar sense.
Besides, Pokémon sheets should not take over two pages worth of reference, because remember that these will be used for a 3D sculptor, and time is money, so they’re not going to waste any minute skimming through two papers because they have to model 100+ other things in a busy schedule.
Only Pokémon with multiple formes, again, typically applied to legendaries and mythicals, are the exception.