Hi-ya, Sainan! Welcome! ^^
I used to be into spriting myself, but you know, I wasn't all that talented in it, and, eh, I never really had any time to improve. :( But you know, I still consider it to be fun, and I do like to see fan-made sprites and fusions from time to time! You know, I'm not so sure about how people view spriting, but you know, I don't think it's as looked down as you think. Well, that's what I think anyway.
Anywho, if you're starting to like competitive battling, that's cool! We're always looking forward on meeting new competitive players. :3 I myself, am a competitive player myself! If you want, you can take a look at the
Battle Center if you need some guidance in competitive play, where you can ask for help if you've made a team, or, if you need some competitive help in general. You can take a look at the
Guides and Resources for competitive battling here, just to help you familiarize yourself with the aspects. :3
And you know what, I definately agree with you about the generations; I think all generations are unique and special in their own way, y'know? Well, admittedly, I find myself playing the Gen I and Gen III games a lot more, but, each one of them is quite fun to play~!
Anywho, I really hope you'll enjoy posting, and enjoy your stay~! Don't be afraid on asking for help if you need it! I myself, am willing to help at any time, or you can ask a member of the staff team!