Was there not any other way in which he could have made the series interesting? Myself, I found many ways in which the plot could have progressed without the power levels skyrocketing anew so often.
-Roshi teaches Goku and Krillin the martial-arts basics without making them stronger. Come to think of it, the 21st TB could justifiably play out in the same way even without power increases being introduced so early in the series.
-Old Piccolo's "less than half power" statement is removed.
-When Goku drinks the Holy Water to fight Piccolo, it unlocks his potential only temporarily. The point of his training at Kami's lookout afterward is to permanently gain that power. Come to think of it, AT had forgotten there were two Piccolos by the time he introduced power levels, so the levels he has in mind when he introduced the numbers were those of the KP Saga anyway.
-The "Saibaimen=Raditz" statement is removed.
-Kaioken is never stated to be a direct multiplier.
-Zenkais are removed, or at least they're not that absurdly large. Vegeta could justifiably defeat Zarbon the second time by fighting more strategically. Also, Jeice could be weaker than Recoome.
-Freeza's "530.00-1.000.000" statements are removed. So are his transformations. When he appears before Vegeta/Krillin/Gohan, he toys with them in his first form. When Namiccolo appears, he fights him evenly for a while, until Freeza breaks off his battle suit (sign that he powers up) and/or transforms into his final form. Then he trashes Piccolo. Vegeta tries an off-guard attack (as he did against 2nd Form Freeza in cannon). In retaliation, Freeza almost kills him the same way he did in canon. Goku appears.
-Trunks never says he can defeat Freeza even if the latter goes full power. The Super Saiyan is treated as a fixed level of power (excluding grade forms and mastery of the form). No Unmastered Super Saiyans are stated to have become stronger after 3 years. The point of Goku training with Gohan/Piccolo is for the other two to become stronger. The point of Vegeta's training is to become SSJ.
-Goku's "half power" statement at Korin's place is removed.
-Dabura is never compared to Cell.
-SSJ2 remains something unique to Gohan -- a manifestation of his rage. 7 years later, Goku/Vegeta fight as SSJ1, and Goku goes directly to SSJ3 when fighting Fat Buu.
-The "Super Buu>Fat Buu" statements are removed. The point of the transformation is for Buu to become more evil. Goku never says that he could have beaten Fat Buu.
-It's in the ROSAT that the boys fuse successfully for the first time.
-Roshi teaches Goku and Krillin the martial-arts basics without making them stronger. Come to think of it, the 21st TB could justifiably play out in the same way even without power increases being introduced so early in the series.
-Old Piccolo's "less than half power" statement is removed.
-When Goku drinks the Holy Water to fight Piccolo, it unlocks his potential only temporarily. The point of his training at Kami's lookout afterward is to permanently gain that power. Come to think of it, AT had forgotten there were two Piccolos by the time he introduced power levels, so the levels he has in mind when he introduced the numbers were those of the KP Saga anyway.
-The "Saibaimen=Raditz" statement is removed.
-Kaioken is never stated to be a direct multiplier.
-Zenkais are removed, or at least they're not that absurdly large. Vegeta could justifiably defeat Zarbon the second time by fighting more strategically. Also, Jeice could be weaker than Recoome.
-Freeza's "530.00-1.000.000" statements are removed. So are his transformations. When he appears before Vegeta/Krillin/Gohan, he toys with them in his first form. When Namiccolo appears, he fights him evenly for a while, until Freeza breaks off his battle suit (sign that he powers up) and/or transforms into his final form. Then he trashes Piccolo. Vegeta tries an off-guard attack (as he did against 2nd Form Freeza in cannon). In retaliation, Freeza almost kills him the same way he did in canon. Goku appears.
-Trunks never says he can defeat Freeza even if the latter goes full power. The Super Saiyan is treated as a fixed level of power (excluding grade forms and mastery of the form). No Unmastered Super Saiyans are stated to have become stronger after 3 years. The point of Goku training with Gohan/Piccolo is for the other two to become stronger. The point of Vegeta's training is to become SSJ.
-Goku's "half power" statement at Korin's place is removed.
-Dabura is never compared to Cell.
-SSJ2 remains something unique to Gohan -- a manifestation of his rage. 7 years later, Goku/Vegeta fight as SSJ1, and Goku goes directly to SSJ3 when fighting Fat Buu.
-The "Super Buu>Fat Buu" statements are removed. The point of the transformation is for Buu to become more evil. Goku never says that he could have beaten Fat Buu.
-It's in the ROSAT that the boys fuse successfully for the first time.
