>>22670734pretty much. the pokemon concept of the games isn't as outrageous as the anime makes it seem. The player and the rival are the only ones who are given pokedexes and starter pokemon from the professor because they happen to be his closest acquaintances and he trusts them. Most trainers you meet aren't travellers, they're either kids having fun outside of their hometown and who like to battle with strangers (bug catcher, lass, youngster...) or they are adults with jobs and everything who like to battle with strangers (Bird Keeper, Gamblers..). Gyms seem more like dojos, grounds for trainers to meet and train, the challenge-for-badge aspect being more secondary than anything.
The Cool Trainer and the other guys you meet at the Victory Road seem to be the only ones who really care about facing the Elite Four.
