The number of people saying this is a bad idea are short-sighted at best.

While I agree it shouldn't be the main-line title for the generation, Pokémon has long had a history of making interesting ideas happen... even if they're not ALL good.

Pokémon Snap for example, an absolutely great classic, they even made a modernized version for the Switch.

And besides, there gets to be a point with the battling system, that it just leads to tedium. EVEN if you're trying to make it harder, it's still the same formula.

The problem with Pokémon Contests in my opinion, has always been that they have been lackluster. The potential is there, especially for the creative type of people, but when people say that they weren't well received, it's because Game Freak does what Game Freak do and only half-asses things that stray away from the norms.

But they're doing themselves a disservice, because a well-thought out side-game focusing on the Contests and not the overly re-hashed Battles and Badges route, could absolutely sell well enough to warrant it being made for those who WOULD pay for the option.