Flame Dragon

Based on how you're defining it the only way they wouldn't be paywalled is if they added the Pokemon directly into the game and that just isn't realistic for all the Pokemon IMO. Losing the GTS is main issue and yea, I think it is dumb they removed it.

I agree it is odd they'd give use Galarian Slowpoke and not any way to evolve it. 

If they’re adding the data in, it absolutely is. There’s no reason they couldn’t do event giveaways or patch in gift Pokémon. Especially when a large number of what’s being added are legendaries. It’s only 200 more, which also includes the 6 new Pokémon revealed.

And even if you don’t pay, those new Pokémon (given they’re legendaries, they’re unlikely to be able to be wonder traded) and Galarian Slowbro/king are paywall locked.

Someone has to pay for it. Even if it’s literally a single person on earth, someone has to put in the money. No, that’s not realistic, but someone is paying for you to get the Pokémon for free, at best. Home is less of an issue, on its own, but...

Lack of GTS is the problem, and, due to it, it’s not free in any true sense. They intentionally removed a staple feature, and now they’re charging $30 for access to some of the other content they cut.

And they also hinted last year that home itself would have the GTS functions, which, if true, adds another level of awful to it.

Saying the new Pokemon are pay wall locked is something that has been true since Gen 4. If you wanted the Rotom forms you needed to get Plat. Gen 5 had new forms in the 3rd game. Gen 6 had Megas in the 3rd game. Gen 7 had whole new Pokemon.