The original Pokemon anime is an insult to it's viewers really. It's just so bad, just because it's a kid show, doesn't mean that it needs to be of such low quality writing and character development.
That being said, like the Transformers, He-Man, My Little Pony and Thundercats (both new and old) cartoons, they are series made to sell toys. Some are arguably of higher quality than the other (MLP: Friendship is Magic has a higher writing standard than Transformers: Energon), but the goal is ALWAYS the same.
Sell. More. Toys.
With that in mind, it's hard to argue that Pokemon did not succeed in doing so. I would love to a more 'mature' Pokemon cartoon that doesn't treat it's viewer as a drooling retard, but I highly doubt it would happen. As much as I would want it to.