That part about the Elite Four help actually makes me wonder if it ruins the memory of the game later. Like, if your sister's friend beat the water gym for her, she doesn't really remember the strategy she used to win. She just remembers getting past it. Takes away from her own story with the game.
Totally get what garcia.jason means about help from older siblings. My cousin always had me beat Brock for him because he couldn't figure out the type matchups. @nora691 has a point about it messing with your own story, though. Like, if you don't sweat through grinding levels for Misty, do you even really earn that Cascade Badge? I still remember the panic of facing Lance's Dragonite without the right moves, but that's what made it mine.