Why is it that people like this shiteater so much?

I was there during Pokemania and I never understood how the fuck anyone could like Charizard when he was unloyal as fuck and wasn't even that strong to begin with.
There is nothing awesome about it; not the design, not the powers, not the fights, nothing. Even as a kid I could see that fire types were shit when fucking every pog had a type advantage over them and Charmander looks goofy as fuck compared to the other starters.
Only his fight with Magmar in the anime was any good, and his participation in the anime during the first season made him a worse traitor and villain than Team Rocket, Gary, or fucking Giovanni could be.

I just don't get it.