>>27083290I feel like gen 2 was trying very, very subtly to suggest that some pokemon were more for collecting, simply for the pokedex rather than battling. With only 100 more added in g/s/c, it would be (in gamefreak's eyes) a special moment when you or one of your friends shows you via pokedex the super rare pokemon they've recently caught. You think you're going through Kanto again, when suddenly this Dark/Fire hellhound appears out of nowhere on that tiny route. It was a huge thing, back then.
Not to mention by the time kids find Misdreavus, they'll have a high-levelled end-game party with you so most kids won't bother switching a member out for it.
But nowadays that doesn't really work. Theres no other method of playing the game other that battles, so people would rather the ones they use at least be viable, since collecting "rare" pokemon is really a thing of the past (especially with online legendary hand-out events, and even breeding for pseudos or starters)
pic unrelated 
