I always used the Pokeball. I miss that silly, Wii-like fun so much.
I think it was just a really good fusion between an update of a classic game that maybe understood the fundamental appeal of Pokemon better than the modern games, and really fun overtures to the Let’s Go audience, that kind of made the game more enjoyable in general.
Unlike Sword and Shield, top-down played better to Gamefreak’s graphical strengths too. The game is really pretty and inviting, in this kind of nostalgic, rural country way. Just a quick search reminds me of that.