>>46887989>>46888017It was for single-player balance.
In the original RB, making Onix too strong would make Brock too unfair on players who chose Charmander, since Bulbasaur and Squirtle were the only Grass and Water type possible to get before Pewter, Mankey wasn't added to Route 22 until Yellow, and Nidoran only learnt Double Kick at frickin' level 43 in RB (changed to level 12 in Yellow).
Weakening Onix's stats was also probably easier to program than another Grass or Water type Mon to catch before Brock.
