I like the Hitmonlee sprite in this gen quite a lot. As you say, the shiny coloration is more subtle, closer to purple around the leg area. I like his pose too, he reminds me a little bit of Gossamer from Looney Toons. Having a Hitmonlee is going to help you out around Karen. Mine is still a bouncing baby Tyrogue and will probably always be. I'd love to hear how your breeding projects go. It sounds like you have accumulated a dazzling shiny collection over the years.
My team is in a sort of awkward right now. It has Reptar my Feraligatr, Angel my Dragonair, Raiden my Raikou, Baast the Kadabra (I know my nicknames are the worst) and the traded Onix Rocky as well as Mandrake my Gloom. I haven't been lucky enough to get a phone call about the leaf stone yet.
I also have a Growlithe called Firebrand. He's kinda hanging back in the PC on standby. I want to use him but I have taken him about as far as I think I can go without evolving him into Arcanine, no fire stone from Alan yet. I might be able to push Gloom a bit further. I have all 8 badges now but I'm stalling, hoping for stones before the Elite Four. Ho hum...