Getting rid of Scald was the greatest (competitive) choice that Scarlet and Violet made, and I'm honestly still really disappointed that they chose to bring it back.
It is true that they limited Scald's distribution pretty drastically, and I like this approach with Toxic - it's a powerful defensive tool, but it's available to a few non-Poison types that have reasonable associations with poison. It's a much better approach than simply giving Toxic to literally everything! I will say, it is certainly an improvement over pre-Gen 9, where practically every single Water type could learn it. This is a concession I'll readily make - the state of Scald and its distribution is worlds better than it used to be.
For starters, I just think Scald is fundamentally an unbalanced move. A Water type move that can burn is just very difficult to deal with, because Water covers the one type that can safely switch into a burn move! Just from a flavor standpoint, I also dislike the idea of Water types being just as, if not more consistent, than Fire types at burning things. We also got Chilling Water just this gen, a much more balanced move that fulfilled a similar function to Scald without being as overtuned - lower BP and a weaker effect, but also a much more consistent one. I don't know if Chilling Water ever had widespread usage in any format, but I think it's still a much more reasonable power level than Scald, which was everywhere. Why introduce this move to begin with if you're just going to bring its superior version back with DLC? Matcha Gotcha is an even stronger move with the healing, but A. it's a signature move, meaning its distribution is nil and B. it's a Grass move, so you can switch in a Fire type with no concern.
And among the 'mons that they chose to give the move, they still gave it to annoying bulky Waters! Nothing as bad as Toxapex, but even if Slowbro/king learn Flamethrower, I really don't think they should be able to click such a defensively powerful move. Alomomola also got enough of a buff with Flip Turn, if you ask me. If they had to keep Scald around, I genuinely do think it should be limited to Simipour and Volcanion only, both of whom naturally learn it and have the flavor to justify it. It'd also be fair game for any Fire/Water types to learn it, of course. I still believe in the glorious return of Bomushika!)
