Probably because it was intended to be played mainly by children : P on the other hand, the japanese usually do a good job of making characters that have no clear age
More in general, you want the silhouette to look flawless and have no rounded forms looking less than perfect for the view distance you intend to show it
Those poles on the crotch and butt are going to be a disaster no mater what you intend to do with the model, turn those into quads running from front to back.
Haha, was about to say that ... I think the newer designs are what was originally intended. Now that they can do more than "guy in a rubber suit" effects.