>removed the National Dex
>removed destroyable battle backgrounds
>removed horde battles AND Super Training
>removed the DexNav
>removed the PSS
>removed triples and rotation battles after they just got a mode in Gen 6 for the Tower clone
>complete step backward for Pokemon distribution
>started the trend of Kanto pandering
>started the trend of regional gimmicks
>started the trend of the game being comprised of mostly hallways
>started the trend of adding pointless roadblocks even though the game has map markers telling you where to go already
After all these years, I think we can finally safely conclude that the true ultimate downfall of Pokémon as a series began precisely in November 2016 with the release of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.

I know this is difficult information to accept for those of you who grew up playing this as your first introduction to Pokémon as a series. But its your word versus the backing of lived-in experienced veterans dating all the way back to 1998. You just sort of have to accept it, like death and taxes.