dafuq Animals

[NICKtendo DS]

I wish I wouldn't have to use this argument, but it's a freaking game. Having your Pokémon die would be terrible. You're not playing some kind of gritty game, it's a kids game with cool monsters.

That is the whole point. It is terrible, yet there are instances that deaths are mentioned by (mostly) less significant characters. It makes no sense other than to teach morale. Pokedeath is nothing more than a myth to scare children into doing good, like the Boogieman or whatever.
Point is, Pokemon are living figures, like monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh are trading cards (like those pieces of cardboard actually have hearts). Death, along with other data provided by the many sources found throughout the series, are but stories to add character to these figurines, that's it.
All in all, like you said, it's just a kids game with cool monsters.