system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Pokemon] Team Rocket gets obsessed with the seemingly underwhelming Pikachu because it manages to easily defeat the whole team. Why did they not get obsessed with Ash's Caterpie aswell?

I know it evolved into Metapod that same episode but Team Rocket didnt see that.
gpt
because pikachu is an easily visible target. Ash keeps pikachu out at all times and can often be away from Ash. To steal his other pokemon, they would have to steal them on his belt which he rarely takes off. They also dont know which pokeball contains which pokemon, so its a toss up if they even steal the right one. Pikachu, by all rights should be an "easy target" Jesse and James just stink at stealing pokemon.