I think the fanbase is overreacting. The design isn't that bad.
The pokemon fanbase is always overreacting. i remember when the gen 5 starter evolutions leaked and evrybody was fuming . they were the worst starter evolutions at that time but they definitely were not horrendous
I've been a step ahead of you for years now. I stopped playing Pokemon mid-Sapphire because I wasn't liking the direction they were going in, and was no longer enjoying it (and it's only gotten worse since then, imo). However, me not playing the games is not changing the fact that I'm still a Pokemon fan (even if it's in a historical sense), and as such, am bothered by some of the antics post Gold/Silver and 2nd gen.
The pokemon fanbase is always overreacting. i remember when the gen 5 starter evolutions leaked and evrybody was fuming . they were the worst starter evolutions at that time but they definitely were not horrendous
But wait, I stan for them (except dor Oshawott final form which is horrendous).