I wish they hadn't made a lot of the pokemon trainers weaker in the remakes than in the originals. They were already pretty bad in those games. Lowering the levels was completely unnecessary. I mean we (those who were kids then) were able to handle that so it's not that hard. -.- I also really did not like how they got rid of the Battle Frontier. That was pretty epic and I was so looking forward to it. They could've made these games so much better...
I think you have selective memory:
Ruby Saphire - Roxanne: Geodude is lv 14, Nosepass is lv 15
Brawly: MAchop is lv 17, Makuhita is Lv 18
Wattson: Magnemite is lv 22, Voltorb is lv 20, Magneton is lv 23
Flannery: Slugma is Lv 26, Slugma is lv 26, Torkoal is lv 28
Norman: Slaking is LV 28, Vigoroth is lv 30, Slaking is lv 31,
Winona: Swellow is lv 30, Pelipper is lv 30, Skarmory is lv 32, Altaria is lv 34
Tate & Liza: Solrock is lv 42, Lunatone is lv 42
Wallace: Ludisc is Lv 40, Whiscash is lv 42, Sealeo is lv 40, Seaking is lv 42, Milotic is lv 43
Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire - Roxanne: Geodude is lv 12, Nosepass is lv 14
Brawly: Machop is lv 14, Makuhita is lv 16
Wattson: Magnemite is lv 19, Voltorb is lv 19, Magneton is level 21
Flannery: Slugma is lv 26, Numel is lv 26, Torkoal is lv 28
Norman: Slaking is lv 28, Vigoroth is lv 28, Slaking is lv 30
Winona: Swellow is lv 33, Pelipper is lv 33, Skarmory is lv 33, Altaria is lv 35
Tate & Liza: Lunatone is lv 45, Solrock is Lv 45
Wallace: Luvdisc is lv 44, Whiscash is lv 44, Sealeo is lv 44, Seaking is lv 44, Milotic is lv 46
So sure, the first few gyms do have pokemon 2 - 3 levels lower, the last few gyms have pokemon that are 3 - 4 levels higher, so not only does it balance out, but most of the middle gym pokemon are the same level. So unless you only play the first 3 gyms and then stop, the gym leaders are pretty much on par with the originals. What I don't get is why does everyone assume the games are easier and not that they are simply better at playing the game? After all, if you played the original (which would be up to 10 years ago depending on your age) why would you automatically assume your skill level would never ever improve ever in anything you ever play ever? No one stays at the same level, everyone always improves so instead of blaming the games, why not blame yourselves for having the secret ability of long term memory and being able to learn from experience? ;-D