Just to give a counter-example:
When I was young, Pokemon was, at best, a fun distraction. You raise your Pokemon, try to catch them all, and get to level 100. It's pretty mundane and easy, all things considered.
Now, there's competitive PvP Pokemon online. There are intricacies I never dealt with just screwing around. Everyone's Pokemon are at level 100, and they all have the best moves and have powerful abilities and items you never bother with in-game. There are subtle nuances that are not obvious: the Pokemon you defeat give "EV" points which make a specific stat stronger, but only 252 points can go into each stat and your Pokemon can only earn 510 total, so even what Pokemon you fight while raising them is important. The moveset, the nature (not just flavor-text, as it turns out, but an important stat modifier), everything about the Pokemon need to be perfectly engineered before even entering battle.
Even the Pokemon choice matters: not all Pokemon are equally powerful, and not all of them are powerful in the same way. Many are good at setting up with buffs first, and then taking out the competition. Others specialize in stalling and forcing the opponent to switch, wasting a turn. Others provide a supportive role, setting down health-reducing obstacles on the opponent's side or creating favorable conditions. Your Pokemon choices have to mesh, each one covering weaknesses of the others while also potentially opening holes in the enemy defense.
Battle itself is a lesson in game theory. Which choice has the best chance of getting me ahead? What are the biggest threats? How can I play around them or defeat them? Who on my team is not relevant to this particular battle and can be sacrificed to create an opening? These questions are always being answered and re-asked throughout a battle.
Anyway, your point of view is valid too. Pokemon is just a rare game in which it actually becomes more involved and complicated as you try to pursue the most efficient strategies and get smarter.