Unpopular opinion: Pokemon should evolve more slowly, so for example your starter should evolve around the 4th gym and then evolve again between the 7th and 8th gym. I always feel like I barely get to use my mons when they're small and become their strongest form with way too little battling, it doesn't feel earned, then by the half point of the game the entire party is fully evolved. A fully evolved pokemon should be a symbol of a very strong trainer instead of a mediocre one