>>51022329I mean I don't think they need to be mutually exclusive things, I think the implementation of the Johto Safari Zone was pretty unique and felt like a good way to evolve the concept of the Safari Zone even if the final result still needed more refining (mainly with that shit about item placement and waiting).
As for the level curve, yeah I mean they did some patchwork like lowering Whitney's level, raising Falkner's, Bugsy's and Pryce's as well as Clair's fsr but I think the curve would've benefitted from more trainers and battles simply put, there really isn't enough trainers in the region, some more optional side areas as well as bulking up some of the pre-existing locations like Union Cave, National Park, Burned Tower, Glittering Lighthouse as well as giving some existing locations trainers that didn't have them in GS like Ilex Forest, Ruins of Alph, Moo Moo Farm and Ice Path.
I think the overall curve though of getting up to ~Lv40 by the 8th Gym Leader would work fine, it'd give the player more time with the middle form of their starter and give emphasis to just how powerful a Pokemon that evolves via methods other than levelling can be by having trainers with Stone, Trade and Happiness Evolutions be more common.
