My strongest Pokemon was about ten levels behind, mainly because I breezed through the ice gym, my weaker pokemon were even higher than ten levels behind.

I used to play at many levels higher than gym leaders but now I realize it's more fun to just fight them at whatever levels I can get.

However, I really hate fighting Elite Four members because they don't give you a chance to recover before fighting the champion. It's not that it's difficult, it just feels rather unfair. So much for being a champion when he/she isn't willing to battle you at full strength.

Ironically i finished him off with Samurott.

Huh. That's odd. I never grinded, so I'm unsure how I ended up stronger.
I guess I just explored more? *Shrugs*

All my friends used to do that, taking teams of Pokemon hitting the level 80 mark against the E4, when their Pokemon are at 45-55, for the first round.

I, on the other hand, just went against them as is. Increased the challenge, increased the tension, and it was more fun and satisfying.

Probably, I don't get as much of a thrill from bumping into Pokemon like I did as a kid, especially as in most caves and grass the same three pokemon pop up in a loop, so I try and take the quickest destination I can to anywhere.

But... Part of the fun in Pokemon is the exploration.

It isn't when you've been stopped the third time that minute by a fucking Zubat.

Technically, if it was White 1, it was Woobat.
Because one of B/W's touted features was "No returning Pokemon."

Zubat was the first shit Pokemon to come to mind :lol

I tried training a Woobat. Bad idea.