These are the starters I have seen often called downgrades, let's see why
Venusaur
>My Ivysaur becomes ugly and I can't fuck it :(

Blastoise
>I want gay ass wings instead of badass canons
Okay I can understand you wanted them to keep the theme of Wartortle but like who the fuck cares about some wings instead of fucking cannons?
>Meganium
>I like Bayleef more
Nothing to say, Bayleef objectively just looks better
>Sceptile
Grovyle fuckers from PMD aside it's such a wasted opportunity they chickened out of a type combination like grass + steel/flying/dragon and while some Grovylefans are furfags Grovyle does have more personality too
>Serperior
Divisive but I can see why people like the Servine more
>Samurott
I don't even need to say anything, when Cheren sent out this thing in BW I thought it was some random single stage and not Dewott's evolution
>Greninja
Some people prefer the gay ass bubbles from Frograider, another Blastoise case.i have no idea how could anyone prefer Frograider than Greninja but some people do
>Delphonx
Looks less feminine and all Fennekin fags are either coomers or women
>Deciduey
Datrix has a completely different feel than this dork it makes sense people see it as a downgrade
>Inteleon
I can see why people like Drizzile more than this abomination

I'm not saying these are the only bad starters but ones that let fans of their mid evos down, people who liked small gay duck won't care it become a bigger gay duck that doesn't make Ququaval better than any of this.