>>1220
I don't like them, honestly. Like you said, having to fit the template is a real disadvantage. They're all the same. The CYOAs end up never having the unique flavor of the world they're based on.
Bringing a gun or a lightsaber to the Pokemon world? What?
Allergic to Pokemon? Why would you ever choose that in this CYOA? Makes no sense.
Instead, you should be able to use points to attain a profession, like a Breeder or a Scientist, or use them to garantee you'll ba able to catch and train better Pokemon. Ghost and Psychics being worth more then Normal and Fire Types, Dragons moreso. You could use a bunch of points to become a dRagon specialist, like Lance, or use them all to get a single Legendary Pokemon.
On a more personal note, I hate that these all assume you'll leave after a while, leaving everything you've built behind. Moving from universe to universe, never being able to visit the same twice bothers me.
Just my two cents.