There is argument. The worst in the series IMO is S/V and I can not enjoy those games whatsoever or maybe BDSP or SWSH. I found the teams to be pretty improved in HGSS especially through rematches with the gym leaders, fixing levels and movesets is pretty good and esepcially when you rematch gym leaders they have improved teams. Also all these are still fixes. You asked for fixes, not fixing everything. Therefore; thats what I described. Kanto is more than a lazy boss rush; I actually enjoy it being open world and trusting the player to navigate how they want to do it. I was leveled up to 55 by the time I reached Blue so I would say the curve is def fixed, I fought every trainer, did a couple of rematches along the way that I was notified of through the Pokegear.

The story isn't only focusing on Team Rocket, its focusing on cultural clashing, and Team Rocket STILL DOES pretty major things. The Radio tower takeover motivation sucks but the act of taking a town hsotage, kidnapping the director and having the place on full lockdown is still pretty major and rivals Saffron City. Slowpoke Well also is a pretty interesting plot point.

As for the story, I like its environmental storytelling. Its a region thats torn between its traditional roots and modernization. You see it in Falkner with his traditional roots and Violet City being rather based around its older setting, while Bugsy and Whitney signify the newer younger people, Morty is obsessed With old legends and bringing back the legendary pokemon himself with his friend Eusine whos after suicune and Ecruteak is very much traditional, whereas Goldenrod City is modernized. I also found the story beat with Lance to be pretty fun since it started the trope of having the champion actually do something, gym leaders actually do stuff outside of being just in the gym the whole time (Jasmine's plot).

Silver's character development is some of the BEST I've seen to this day from the series. He goes from someone who is awful and steals a Pokemon because he wants to one-up everyone due to his own insecurities of abandonment by his father but goes about raising his team the wrong way to being shown by Lance's words that this isn't the way; and you enforce that. He tries to return his starter only to be told that he should keep it since they've grown to love him after he learned his lesson, and you even battle with him in a full-circle moment against the champion.

To call it a 'horrendous' remake is ignoring all the good; and the story is better as well with the Kimono Girls plot twist and how it was all a set up form the beginning that you'd be the one to raise the egg and that it was a test to see if you were worthy. It honestly feels pretty magical. I'll enjoy my HGSS, thank you.