>>56300570Game logic makes more sense when a literal toddler is an E4 member and I don't think a single Champion is over 17 at most.
If you're a random shmuck who isn't hardcore into battling and you use your Pokemon for mundane stuff, yeah, you'll get your shit pushed in by Team Rocket.
If you're Ash, Alain, any version of Red, etc., you're either fighting a professional League on the regular while beating up amateurs. Even Anime Misty learned how to tame a Gyarados, and Gyarados don't roll over for just anyone.
It's basically like if random gang members decided to mess with a boxer whose records are in the double digits, an Olympic shooter, and the guy who does those competitions where you pull trucks with your teeth.
Now, experienced Team thugs are a different story. There's that one spy in the third Pokemon movie who was infiltrating that giant pirate operation.
