>>36581023Design =/= in-game viablity
Anyway, Meganium was the best of its three starters in comp in Gen II, and Serperior is the best of its three starters in comp now.
Also Pokemon is easy enough that it doesn't really matter which starter you pick. In Gen II, for instance, you can easily just pick up a Geodude before the first gym to carry you through the first two gyms.