Yanno, I'm GLAD the Battle Frontier's in Kanto. Then we won't have to endure another piece of crap boating episode requiring Satoshi-tachi to board a ship, travel to Houen and the travel all the way to the Battle Frontier. It's just much easier traveling Kanto, especially in locations we DIDN'T get to see or didn't see much of back in the old days of Pocket Monsters.
And what's wrong with Kikuko now being the Gym Leader? o_O The place collapsed after the Rocket Gang screwed up their battle with Satoshi. Kikuko took over the damaged Gym after it was rebuilt. Remember, the Elite Four doesn't exist in the anime like it does in the games simply because the League in the anime is nothing like in the games. Plus it makes sense to have these trainers, the strongest of all, to be traveling the world rather than sit around and wait for kids to battle them.