Main "theme" of this game isnt complete pokedex and beat the best? Leveling should be a second line of game, even getting the best pvp pokes is the most hard part.
i played about half of my game time without membership and can personally say the game experience for me wasnt ruined due to the exp system c:
I have this account for months and im still on second gym because i get bored of grinding like an idiot chinesse farmer (not racismt, just an expresion), its not how a game works, games are entretainment not a job. Ive spent half of my played time on a poke center because of that. If youve felt good leveling im glad you enjoyed the game, but it shouldve enjoyable on all ranks even for a new pokemon player that need to learn about and not get boring on the first 10 minutes. Ye ye theres alot of people playing this pokemon game bla bla, but as obvious, people that doesnt have the same patience as me or others, they just leave forever because they didnt found the "Pokemon Game" that they mind this was, (hundreds of inactive accounts is a good number? Even thousands can be a good one). As ive said, im glad you enjoyed the game with the actual grind way but thats not the way.
I understand all points of view, because are just points of view and opinions that everyone have one same as [Censored].
Erm, you don't have to grind that hard to beat the second Gym. I went past and did the Nugget Bridge first and after I went on forward as far as I could then I went back and defeated her easily.