You see I don't doubt people prefer stuff like this as they do, but I think it's something much more then that. Improvements don't mean anything if the style of the game isn't in your favor, and improvements don't always mean they improve your like for what you're playing because what one considers an improvement is up to the user to decide.
With Gold and Silver, the style of the Pokemon, the style of the Characters, the style of the Music, and the style of World and how it connects with everything appeals to me greatly. The mechanics also do a tremendous part at that, but when I look at the game, it's probably still one of the last things I think about. When you have games like platformers in which mechanics at the core make the difference, that's when I care more for it, but the way in Pokemon it's a lot different because it's a whole other style.
You could change one thing, then you lose one thing you liked in a past game in the progress. I don't think just because a game is newer that makes it better, (i'm not implying you are saying that) there's a reason people prefer Sunshine over Galaxy and it's the style it has and how it connects with every part of the game.
Pokemon has the mechanics, though, regardless of your game. However, it's a combination of both that makes them excellent in an opinion. At least, that's how I see it.
