I just feel like the Legendaries should be higher level and/or optional, which solves multiple problems I have with them.
- The forced captures ruining/complicating the option to SR, since you can't reliably pin exact IVs until you hit ranges like 70+
- Borderline forced usage of the legendary.
It just doesn't work for any camp.
Casual players/runs dislike it because it's another thing that can make the game pathetically easy (even in old games, the catchable legendaries still put up a fight to catch if you really wanted to use them) when you have a legendary to steamroll things like Lysandre or the Elite Four.
Competitive players wouldn't use the Legendary anyway to keep it UT for trade value, and would want the option to come to it at a time that's convenient to get them right.
Things like the re-vamped breeding mechanics and the continued inclusion of the IV judge and Gen V tutors shows Game Freak at least acknowledges the competitive scene even if they don't build around it. It's arguable with things like Rayquaza or Xerneas/Yveltal, since those are banned from VGC, but the Latis are allowed, and those are arguably the most tedious since you have such a long sequence before being able to approximate, and no hope of reaching the Battle Resort without saving, yet they're a given considering there's no capture and they play a role of convenience.
It's not even like they had to hand it to you. The game could have given you the Eon Flute as some sign of gratitude after the Magma/Aqua fight, and sent you back as such. Maybe in the end-game, Lati@s decides you're not just a kind soul, but a powerful trainer, and gives you the chance to obtain/capture it in post game.