Super boost in battle or unnecessary appendage
Hi guys, it's the DB Analyst here. Applying real world logic (I think) in the Dragonball world. This topic was inspired by Qaaman's 2016 video titled “Dragonball Z Debunked: Do SAIYAN Tails ALWAYS Regrow?” He broke down Toriyama's explanations about the tails and why they are no longer a thing. My take on it is querying if it is indeed that these tails are only an unnecessary appendage. Let's examine:
1) Saiyans were a thriving race of people, for I could only assume, centuries or more. But now all of a sudden their tails are deemed unnecessary. Hmm...
2) The tail is the link to the Great Ape/Oozaru form which is the key to obtaining a super boost of strength. But it's unnecessary....
3) Why would you be born with an important aspect (eg. Long tongue for frogs to eat vs. Long tails for warriors to fight at a much more powerful level) and now all of a sudden you no longer need it? It may have been a weakness when grabbed but even Kid Goku trained his tail to make it stronger. My best bet is that the saiyans would've trained everything – i.e. even the tail. So, not sure why Radditz had such a problem with it – maybe he was a low-level or maybe he just personally did not care to train his tail. My concept of Radditz leads me to believe the latter. (More on him some other time.)
4) Pretty sure hair could also be considered an unnecessary appendage. Just like hair, the saiyans wrap it up to keep it out of harm's way when in battle. If it was really such a nuisance, shouldn't the saiyan race be a bunch of One Punch Saiyamen!
5) Vegeta calculated (at a time when he did not have the ability to sense power) that Goku was stronger than him after the last Kaioken attack. His immediate reaction was not to freak out and swear endlessly about the fact that a low-level could out rank the prince of all saiyans. He just pulled out his trusted trump card – the Ape form. So it looks like this unnecessary appendage could actually be...necessary.
6) And wasn't Vegeta pissed about losing his tail? If it was so useless then why did he act like it was some kind of tragedy?
7) It would make sense if you had the power of the Great Ape from birth so then naturally you wouldn't want a tail. Sounds a lot like Broly...but the side effects could...umm...be a lot like him.
8) If we take out the whole aspect of the Great Ape form then it is 100% proven that the tail is indeed unnecessary. Without that, the tail is very much just for fashion. As a warrior race they upped it x10 in battle. Pretty sweet deal but it was probably used as a last ditch effort. You know how they fight!
9) So these tails can grow back and specifically in times of stress or danger. So why grow back (especially in these moments) if it's unnecessary? Hmm...
10) And lets look back on Planet Vegeta. Babies were being driven off in droves to go to planets with the goal to conquer the worlds they were sent to. Saiyan babies are no different to human babies. Without their tails, then how exactly were babies suppose to conquer anything? By crying?
11) It is claimed that Vegeta permanently removed his tail on purpose. I'm not so sure about that. Why remove it unless perhaps he by then obtained the power level of the Great Ape within his regular form. But why are we assuming that the x10 isn't a continuous application? You get stronger and then you can x10 that. If this is not so then at what power level is the Great Ape null and void? A saiyan who has achieved great strength wouldn't want the Great Ape form then. But there could still be an advantage...you are operating as a giant which I'm sure could translate your punches into much meaner hits – just saying.
12) Chi-Chi probably did permanently remove Gohan's tail. Knowing her, she would have been freaked out about her son walking around with a stumpy fur wedge lodged on his lower back. But, the Chi-Chi I know, would have retaliated at anything surgical and leaving a scar on her little boy. They live in the Dragonball world, right? So, just make a wish and voila! However, back in Dragonball when everyone was considering Goku an alien for his tail, Chi-Chi was merely curious about it. So why would she now have a problem with it? Especially in the case of Goten. Now here's something to think about! Or is it a case of Goten's so powerful, he doesn't need it? In Bulma's case, it's more likely she would be the one to be absolutely disgusted to have a child with a tail. Besides, why risk the troublesome tag team Goten and Trunks with a simple task of never looking at the moon? Do they still have a moon though...
13) So is it that a child could only grow back a tail? Why not the adults? Why something so natural would become obsolete as you age? Pretty sure lizards grow back their tails as long as they're alive. Or perhaps, there's only so many times you can get this thing whacked off. It's like now you're an adult – you're on your own now! Some trusted trump card this thing is.
Overall, I have no problem with getting rid of the tails of the saiyans – honestly, you don't really miss them. A lot of people are far more distracted by the hairstyles and what colour it may be at any given moment and the epic battle scenes. I'm pretty sure this just boils down to Toriyama's frustrations with forgetting them in the production process. I could only imagine the defeat at having to redo a whole bunch of perfect artwork only because...you forgot the tails. That alone would make me think up any excuse to get rid of them the first chance I could. I am more on the side of the Great Ape only reaching so far in power – in other words, the man can become a whole lot stronger but the Ape never can. Let me know what you guys think? Are saiyans tails unnecessary after all?