yeah i've actually never chosen a grass starter, like ever. Mostly because grass isn't really a good offensive type, but i'm using an HA Serperior for competitive battles.
Totodile was also my first starter! Hence why Feraligatr is my favourite starter of all time.
I don't really have a tradition when it comes to picking my starter. Though in the last few generations, I ended picking up the starter I had as my first choice (Snivy in Gen 5, Froakie in Gen 6, and Litten in Gen 7). I don't really see it as a tradition, more as a coincidence.
I started first playing Soulsilver on the DS. I usually go with the fire types but my first starter was Totodile. Blaziken, Infernape, and Charizard are my favorite fire starters. 6th gen has to go to Greninja though. Protean is an op ability!