That's missing what I'm getting at: PvP is the end-all for the game. Either in Gyms (camping them), or Battles against players (which isn't out of the norm for the series).
I'm more asking for a Pokemon Journey like the main-line games. Gym's are pointless past getting coins. There's no reason to do them beyond leveling a badge and getting free coins. That's it.
Single-player (and speaking as a rural) wise: There's not enough to do to entertain yourself in that regard. I get the game is a "social walking" thing (and hence why it's struggling with this outbreak) but they have the goddamn mainline games to take cues from: Let me raise or breed Pokemon. It'll make getting new ones significantly easier. Remove the trade restrictions/stardust requirements. Let me get Gym badges (make them theme'd like some folks do a la the Eeveelutions in gyms or Squirtle-Squad sunglasses ones) that give some benefits (more candies for the type a la leveling/catching the type badges already) or something.
Raids are cool and all (but they do me jack shit as I have no "Raid team" for 3+ raids, which means these legendaries are pointless to me from home) but I want a more ... I don't know the word... "engaging?" Single-player experience.
I mean, like: Why can't I call out my Buddy to battle the Wild 'mons and make it easier to catch? Berries and the ball catching mechanics are kind-of... dull? "Oh, it broke free... for the tenth time..." There's a lot of QoL stuff they could do (lagging battles like you mention is a key example, it happens in Gym battles as well, speaking from experience) but they don't because they're raking in cash at this point and have a skeleton crew on it since they have Harry Potter to focus on. It's annoying.
