>>48406564The Elite 4 are the strongest trainers in the from the tier list of their region. The Pokémon League Championship consist on defeating them all once you get 8 different badges from any leader so you can prove your value and maturity as a trainer. As the Champion, you are rewarded with nation-wide recognition on the Hall of Fame and some other privilegies like being the Leader of your hometown and replace the former one, but you aren't considered "the strongest" or the "fittest" since you just won a contest, you have no responsibilities as League Champion
So Lance being "The Champion" in gen 2 makes no fucking sense
and so on
The League Championship can also be seen as a tourrnament of 8-badge-owners (like in the anime/manga) and the E4 are the judges
