The only reason I believe in the 151 Pokemon Kanto re-imagining is because of simple market analysis. You have X number of years to support the switch. Unlike previous titles, these are going to be full $60 releases and you're not going to convince the consumer to buy the same crap again and again. Gamefreak needs a plan that will last the entire Switch lifespan.

The first Pokemon game on the Switch is going to sell no matter what because of gorgeous new HD visuals. That Lapras image floating around is completely bogus because graphics are everything in the marketing department, so much so that we almost always get 30fps games over 60fps to squeeze every ounce of graphical power out of a console. Unlike the 3ds where they were able to do quite a leap in style from XY to Sun/Moon, the Switch games will not start off tile-based. In every Switch Pokemon game, it is very likely that we'll see the same game engine.

So how do they give the consumer perceived value over multiple titles without changing the engine? Simple. They sell a game with much less content than the 3ds releases while modeling it off of the recent Pokemon GO success. Not only does this put them in an amazing position marketing wise, it also allows them to get the game out much quicker. By including only the original 151 Pokemon, they have significantly less model and animation work. It lays the groundwork for what's to come while giving the consumer a fresh experience.

With such a small first game. It places Generation 8 in a really good spot. They can advertise a full experience with the most Pokemon ever and all of the features and refinements that have been learned from the Kanto games. In a consumer's mind the additional $60 price tag is now completely justifiable. There's also opportunities for games or DLC beyond these two main releases for the hardcore fans when using this model. You don't needs leaks when you can think of the most obvious long term strategies for Gamefreak to bleed us dry.