I don't know if I'm being trolled or not, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here.
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Hey there everybody, my name's Neiteio.
I'm going to cure this thread of cancer.
Firstly, allow me to cite Merriam-Webster's entry on the word "tradition":
tra·di·tion
Pronunciation: \trə-ˈdi-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tradicioun, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French tradicion, from Latin tradition-, traditio action of handing over, tradition — more at treason
Date: 14th century
1a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
b: a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4: characteristic manner, method, or style <in the best liberal tradition>
This thread is focusing mostly on definitions 1a, 2 and 3: "established pattern of action", "the handing down of customs from one generation to another" and "continuity in method/style". Generation 1 could not have been a tradition because there was no established pattern of action (it was the first Generation, so there was nothing to measure a pattern by), there were no other Generations to have its customs passed down from, and there was no point by which to establish a continuity. Continuity is a line, and Generation 1 was a point. In order for a line to be made, you need at least one more point.
Now for a more in-depth explanation...
Now, as the Legendary Birds of Generation I were the first Legendary Trio, there was no tradition to follow. The confusion over this point appears to be due to a mixing up of concepts of "in-game legend/backstory" and a "trend of Legendary elemental typing". You cannot create something new and state that an aspect of it is an already-defined tradition, because "new" and "tradition" are practically antonyms.
The Birds could have been trend
setters, but as the Legendary Trio's typing changed each generation, a fire/electric/ice circle was not meant to be a tradition.
Let's look at what has become tradition in Pokemon: the concept of a Legendary Trio (Birds, Beasts, Golem, Lake), a fire/water/grass Starter lineup, a Professor named after a tree, a special area only accessible after defeating the Elite Four, and quite a few other things. These things were not tradition in Generation I as there was nothing to create a continuity link with; they
became tradition as each Generation continued to honor them.
Now about this whole thing with the naming, it can go either way- the lead designers can come up with a concept and name and ask Sugimori to draw it, or Sugimori himself could be the man behind Pokemon creation (and the names are applied afterwards). Until someone can find an interview or written statement regarding Pokemon creation, stop tossing around guesses and opinions as facts. I personally believe that the "it's a Water-type because its name is Suicune" argument is weak. Based on my own experience as an artist, it is much more logical for it to work the other way around, being named Suicune because it has already been defined as a Water-type.
What do you make of Regirock/Regice/Registeel and Azelf/Uxie/Mesprit? By continuing to break this "tradition" Generation after Generation, they only prove that there was no typing tradition to begin with.
tl;dr: Your original question was flawed and therefore cannot be answered. No one will argue that Suicune should/shouldn't be an Ice-type because of this.
THREAD HIJACK!
Why isn't Suicune a Flying-type? Isn't it the Pokemon of the North Wind? Hell, it even learns Gust! Discuss.
