Hola, fellow veteran! I'm one too! :D Nice to see we already have a fair bit in common.
Oh, Blue was my first game. Got Red for Christmas later in the year back in the late 1990s.. how time flies, huh? Since you're such a huge fan of the series you'll definitely enjoy all of our Pokemon-based sections, and I'm not surprised to see you have so many posts already! This place is addicting and too awesome, yep. Pretty great to see since you're coming off as a really promising member. n~n You'll definitely evolve into an experienced community regular soon enough, so stick around, all right?
But you are so right about having Pokemon follow you. I so very badly wish they kept it; was an adorable and fun feature! Always funny thinking about when huge Pokemon followed you though, like Onix. That thing would normally bust open the Pokemon Center you walked into so it's always funny when you remember that, ahaha. Not much logic there, huh? Maybe they'll implement that feature again in the sixth generation.
Also you have the best signature ever, just so you know. I've seen it around a few times and it never gets old. XD; Ash's Squirtle is probably one of his coolest Pokemon. Do you watch the anime, by any chance?
Hope your stay on PC is wonderful and you stick around! I'd love to get to know you more, so feel free to leave a message on my profile anytime~!