*face desk*
The core formula is set in stone. Why can't you understand that? They can change how it is presented, but they will never change the core formula. It's what's been making them money, so it would be good business sense not to change it, and they won't.
The whole point of pokemon, and what the stories piggy back on, is to get stronger through participating in the league (another part of the core formula). The gyms aren't meant to contribute to the story line, but to the theme of the franchise. Thus they are staying were they are.
It makes sense because you will be using different characters, the gyms will be revamped, and maybe there will be a new leader or two. It makes the experience fresh. Obviously not for you, but for the vast majority of players it does. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that the majority don't like it.
Like I said, some of the leaders could be changed. If you haven't (or wouldn't) gotten my point by now, then this conversation is pointless.
You say that the formula is set in stone because it works. Why does it work? Because it makes the series fun. GF won't change the battle mechanics because they make the series fun. They won't take out the explorable region aspect out of the series because it makes the series fun. They won't remove boss battles because they make the series fun. They won't remove a trophy system (such as badges) for winning those battles because it makes the series rewarding and fun. But how on Earth does the fact that all the bosses in every game are all inside buildings labeled "GYM" have any benefit to the series whatsoever? I don't care what Game Freak has always done; they've never made a sequel before. Gyms are an easily disposable part of the storyline, especially if they contain the same bosses as its prequel. Game Freak has never had a reason to dispose of gyms from the storyline before because each new storyline has taken place in a new generation, allowing for
new gyms, and thus new bosses. But now that Game Freak is taking on a project involving a brand new story in a predefined region, they have a reason to deviate from the gyms (to create a new experience), so it's foolish to automatically assume that Game Freak would commit the gameplay to the same exact tasks as we underwent in the first games unless these games are a rehash, which they aren't.
You also say they won't change the formula, just how it's presented...which is exactly what I'm suggesting. Still eight boss battles, just not presented as the gym system, which is merely an aesthetic.
If Game Freak is going to code a whole new story into Unova, they're going to make the experience something new. Pursuing the Unova gyms is not something new--we did that a year ago. We need to have a new objective this time. Game Freak's designers and writers are way too creative to let this game become a rehash of last year's game.
I'm thinking in regard to creativity, you're thinking in regard to mathematics. Mathematics doesn't design a video game.