>>35409010Tobias was supposed to represent that, even after working hard, and overcoming numerous obstacles on your way to your goal, there's probably someone out there who has worked just as hard as you, or is just plain better. Unlike Ash's other League losses, Tobias actually went on to become the Champion too, and he did this after sweeping through the entire league with just Darkrai iirc.
The Sinnoh league was not Paul and Ash's first foray into the Pokemon world and competitive Pokemon, and this was likely the case for Tobias as well. He was, like them, someone else who had been traveling for a while and had accrued a lot of experience and power because of it.
He probably could have been executed better but personally, I think he's fine. He's not nearly as aggravating as Alain, who is a ludicrous Mary Sue that robs Ash of the League in the title match. Ash was top 2 in Kalos; top 4 in Sinnoh.