Yes - I was sent a VHS tape from my local Toys R Us in the mail hyping the new Pokemon phenomenon before the games were out and before the show ever aired on TV. I watched on TV when it started airing and played the games when they came out. I played through Gen 1+2, collected Pokemon cards, but as I got older I ditched the cards and stopped playing the games.

Later as an adult I went back and re-played all of them. Although I started with FRLG rather than the original RBY, mainly so I could play through and trade my Pokemon up through each game. I still have most of the living dex on Pokemon Home, just recently beat Sword for the first time.

I regret ditching my cards back in the day, if I kept them I'd have a bunch that were worth something. I still have the VHS and the original Gameboy carts for RBY + G.