nidoking is a pretty strong pokemon overall because he can be mixed in a way that he will cover his weaknesses (like psychic pokemons) and a lot other types 
my nidoking knows mega horn, which is super effective agains dark/psychic/grass. avalanche which is a dragon killer all the way, and is super effective to ground/flying/grass. then earth power wich pretty much covers electric types and anything that isnt flying like steel/fire/rock/poison types and fighting, and then sludge bomb which covers grass but its strong and have high chance to poison. so idk why u didnt like ur nidoking but hes a pretty good pokemon 
and i would probly change my pidgeot to skarmory or an aerodactyl if u can get one.

Nidoking was my star player back in the day.  Why didn't you like him?

Well as long as you saved your good pokemon before resetting then you didnt waste those 79 hours because your pokemon are the fruits of that labor more so than the badges. but if you erased them all then you kind of did.

switch out Arbok for a Weezing.

Ampharos is certainly better in a number of ways compared to Pidgeot. I use an Ampharos and it is the most effective fighter i've got. I essentially beat Lance singlehandedly with a level 46 Ampharos (and some revives). If you can get one with thunderbolt (either through TM or breeding with Pikachu) and thunder wave it becomes one of the best electric pokemon you can have. On the other hand, even the best flying type is still at a big disadvantage to a number of type. I'd recommend finding another flyer with another type to go along with it (legendary birds, Aerodactyl).

" Ampharos is certainly better in a number of ways compared to Pidgeot. I use an Ampharos and it is the most effective fighter i've got. I essentially beat Lance singlehandedly with a level 46 Ampharos (and some revives). If you can get one with thunderbolt (either through TM or breeding with Pikachu) and thunder wave it becomes one of the best electric pokemon you can have. On the other hand, even the best flying type is still at a big disadvantage to a number of type. I'd recommend finding another flyer with another type to go along with it (legendary birds, Aerodactyl). "