Did anyone actually read the first thread or did we all just get here and scream; "PAUL FANBOY, PAUL FANBOY, PAUL FANBOY!".
On to the topic at hand; there is no way that you can say that the team Ash has is region-only when he still has a Pikachu that is esentially level 100 (if we were going by game standards) whereas Paul doesn't. Paul, as was seen in the anime, starting again with a new team as he evolved Magmar and elekid and has been shown to capture loads, such as Gliscor, Ursaring and Tailow.
No, I don't think Paul shows any signs of intimidation, but he has an admiration for the same type of people they are, like combustable opposites, but not opposite. Also what you have to realize is that this Anime series is based upon Ash, and no ammount of fanboy-ism can take that from his credentials, hence why even if Paul was going to be scared for the "final battle of the region" it would be based upon the series being Ash's show.
And also its a childrens anime. Stop looking so deep into it.