...but I like Gen 3.
It was the last generation with games that didn't put arbitrary limits on trading. I don't care what future generations did, I want a Charmander from the start.
Er...in Gen. 1 and 2, you had to have at least one badge before you could trade with anyone.
I remember this because those are the only gens in which I've actually traded Pokemon, and I remember being frustrated as hel by it.
Actually, you only needed the pokedex to trade, and I believe that's the same in every game.
Oh, and the Time Capsule in Gen 2 was also frustrating because it didn't get unlocked until Ecruteak City.