Would Goku, Vegeta, Gohan and Trunks be in trouble if the bad guys actually trained?
Most definitely! Moral lesson of DBZ is to never give up as you keep leveling up
Every DBZ villains greatest weakness is that they don't respect the grind. It's kinda appropriate the villains think they're perfect and don't need to improve at all while our heroes are always seeking self improvement.
They would also be in trouble if the heroes would recruit that carrot villain from early Dragonball. Perfect Cell becomes Perfect Carrot!
Early Dragonball was great. Just wacky shit. I loved it. I still go back to early Dragonball from time to time.
I've been getting into it for the first time. I've seen Z, but early DB is pretty fun and creative. The second season Red Ribbon Army business is better I think because the raunchy jokes in season 1 were getting on my nerves (and I can't show them to the kids).
for vegie, gohan and trunks, yes.
but for Goku, nope! not worried at all.
wouldn't matter what kind of immortal god or all powerful universal cosmic being the bad guy is,
Goku always wins.
even if he loses he wins.