Yeah, I think it's kind of unfair to dismiss it like that.

Pokemon have incredibly robust mechanics, but at the same time it's really simple on the surface. It's a kids' game that can be fully enjoyed by adults because of that, hence the broad appeal. Which is also why the Pokemon are all cuddly - they're meant to be marketable, not monstrous. And I'd argue that, although I do enjoy the Digimon designs, Pokemon are much more distinct from one another than Digimon. Like come on, I know some Digimon are just pallette swaps. How is that not lazy?

Digimon has the superior plot - fine, if the games do that too, perfect. I loved the anime a lot and think that Tamers is really brilliant. But not all games are about the plot. Pokemon have an excuse plot and that's okay - the games have always been more about exploring that world and learning more about those creatures. The world is one of the most unique in existence, IMO, what with how the presence of Pokemon has influenced the civilizations in that world. Seriously, aside from getting a letter from Hogwarts, being inside an actual Pokemon world was one of my biggest childhood dreams.

Also, while they are usually light on plot, Pokemon Black/White still did a fantastic job with the story, showing that Pokemon can be a very self-aware franchise, with one of the coolest deconstructions/reconstructions of the genre that I have seen. It remains one of my favorite games of all time for that reason. Yes, I like a Pokemon game for its plot.