I don't see why you people don't like Paul. I think he's the best rival Ash has ever had!
I mean, he is pretty much the only mean person in the entire Pokemon world. This is something that doesn't happen every generation!
I do not like how he mistreats his Pokemon, but that's what makes him so mean! He gets Ash motivated WAAAY more than Gary ever did. Everytime he calls Ash pathetic, insults his Pokemon, beats him etc., it makes Ash work all the harder to beat Paul.