Odin: I don't get what it would've been about if it hadn't been about the good of something, however. Maybe you wanted a show based solely around the bad guys, or something? That might've been cool. However, in my opinion, Goku kicked ass, hippie or not. He had a certain campiness about him that was funny. "Darnet! I don't know how to swear!" Although that was just the English translation.
Each to his own, really. A DBZ without Goku probably would've been fine, too. Unless the bad guys always won; that might be too dark for my tastes. Hmm....
I also liked Yamcha. Mostly in Dragon Ball, though, when he made a difference in existing. Puar and Oolong were also the coolest pointless characters ever. Was Puar a guy or a girl? Heh. Choutzu was also good for needlessly sacrificing himself every once in a while. That was his sole contribution. That and losing to Krillin in the very first series he was in, I think. Or did he do anything else in Dragon Ball? I guess I can't really say that, seeing as I didn't see Dragon Ball in its entirety...
Piccolo was The Namek, I'll give him that. He was pretty bad ass.
Wuv, Yer Mom