I love EV training and IV breeding. If these aspects weren't present in the game, I doubt I'd play Pokemon. I even like the presence of hacking devices and PRNG, which allow people who don't like to actually earn their victories do just that. I would never use either of these cheap training methods, but the fact that the majority of trainers do just adds to the satisfaction of a victory for me, as I have labored while they have cheated.
For me, IV breeding makes the game suspenseful and often results in gratuitous quantities of fist-pumping when victory is achieved (I recently bred a physical Whiscash of the right nature and ability with 31 in Atk, Def, Sp. Def., HP, and Speed and nearly screamed.) EV training allows you to become closer to your Pokemon, typically resulting in admiration and a sense of belonging for me, as well as a complete knowledge of the Pokemon's weaknesses, strongsuits, and moveset. I remember watching a hacker's battle on youtube in which he would repeatedly check his Poke's movesets and items because he had no idea what they were. Such a thing would never happen to an EV trainer.
In total, these aspects of the game prove one's ability to plan and execute, as well as one's knowledge of the game's mechanics in general.
