Yes exactly. And it makes it possible for characters to then raise 'mons specifically for the purpose of ride pokemon, instead of battling. Kind of like raising for contests, if contests existed. But, y'know, emphasizing certain skills and temperament and responsiveness to a different set of commands than for battling, training them to easily move in a harness/carrying a rider/etc, that sort of thing! So more RP opportunities beyond the run of the mill training/battling thing.