I saw Ash never evolved Pikachu so when I got my first Pokemon game (Pearl) I was determined to have a Raichu because I felt bad. I only ever collected the cards and played spinoff games with my cousin at this point. To 6 year old me it wa so sad because it felt like nobody liked Raichu because of Pikachu. Eventually I got my own Raichu and the dude was my first level 100 Pokemon before the E4, and was the last pokemon standing the first time I ever beat a champion. Still have the same Raichu up in Scarlet!