I've been thinking about this, and I realized something: in the original series, Ash wasn't that dumb. Sure he did dumb things, but he could recognize Pokemon, he knew Caterpie's moves, he knew how to camp, swim, etc. He thought more with his heart than with his head, and made him seem dumb, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He needed to mature, that's all.
True, but Ho-oh was near by, so it he would've been ok.You got that right. But even then, I question Oak's decision (movie four or otherwise) to give the kid Pikachu who was very distrustful. Sure they got along but if they didn't, Ash wouldn't been made into Swiss cheese by those Spearows. Just saying that a lot could've gone wrong and it's these reasons the "ten year old" aspect of Trainer is frequently questioned.
True, but Ho-oh was near by, so it he would've been ok.
Perhaps he needed experience to mature? The games implied that being a Pokemon trainer was a coming-of-age, right of passage type thing. Perhaps the show's writers picked up on that and decided to use it. (Here I go mixing continuities again; please forgive me.)
I guess so but it begs the question: have any Trainers actually died on their journey?
Sure, but it's a relatively rare occurrence.
I can just imagine the conversation.
Ash: Hi mom!
Deliah: Hi Sweetie! How was your trip?
Ash: Aw, it was all right. I died once but now I'm not dead!
Deliah: ...
... and thus was the end of Ash's Pokemon Journey.
Hell, I'm surprised that she never heard of him sinking with the S.S. Anne when an Officer Jenny knew and threw roses down at the sinking sight because they were believed to be dead.
Considering they never run into THAT Officer Jenny, better to let that be swept under the rug.
I always wondered that to become a licensed pokemon trainer by the pokemon league, one's child is entered into a special program where in addition to basic stuff like arithmetic, writing, and reading, the kid learnns pokemon techniques like battling, caring for a sick pokemon, type matchups, and whatnot.