Kalos is still heavily in its own region. Outside of those events, I never felt like it simulated Kanto. Then again, I love the heck out of Gen 6. It was the generation that returned me to Pokemon after a lengthy sojourn.
The Johto games have to ride that excuse otherwise they are shallow, empty shells relying on Kanto especially as the years progress. Kanto Pokemon run rampant in the fields and in Gym Leaders' rosters, premier Johto Pokemon are either cumbersome to obtain (item/trade and happiness evolution), exist in Mount Silver, or are only found in Kanto. Thanks GSC, instead of pushing the hellhound, you want me to use the small orange dog, track down a generic junior trainer, and wait for his call before I can evolve it. Genius. We know how the phone works. Just sell the stones in Goldenrod. You figured it out in RBY to sell stones in Celadon's Department Store.
That is why the Kanto homages in Kalos never bothered me. Kalos has its own identity so the Kanto homages are just sprinkles on the ice cream cone. Gym Leaders use Kalos Pokemon. I found cool Kalos Pokemon (Aegislash, Hawlucha, Sylevon) early in my journey. Imagine if XY followed GSC's model: Honedge would be a post-game Mon, Hawlucha maybe Victory Road, and Sylveon would take forever to obtain. I guess I have always find it slightly ironic. Hardcore Pokemon fans tend to dislike the focus on Gen 1 and have complained XY & Sun and Moon pander too much to Kanto but the Johto games are beloved but they are more tied to Kanto than Gen 6 and Gen 7 ever were. Nostalgia is a powerful force.
