Why did Dr. Wheelo pick Roshi over Piccolo?

[DBZfan2015]

I find it odd that Wheelo abducted Piccolo, but didn't want his body. Piccolo was far stronger than Roshi. Surely he knew who Piccolo was since King Piccolo was in TV. His assistant even made a comment about Piccolo being evil in the past.

[Sandubadear]

Wheelo probably knew that his brain wouldn't work on Piccolo's body since he is supposed to be a demon. Roshi is an Earthling like Wheelo, so it would be easier. Later he went after Goku, but he probably thought Goku was also an Earthling. I don't know if his brain would work on Goku, but since Saiyans are almost the same as Earthlings, I'd guess so.

[Nejishiki]

Piccolo was a Namekian by the time that movie was developed, however I'll agree in that he probably wasn't compatible with his physiology.

[clutchins]

I could be right or wrong here. I always thought it was because Roshi was the strongest martial artist at the time during which Wheelo was alive.

[Nejishiki]

That is also a factor. Uiro is shocked when he is told that Roshi has already been surpassed as the world's strongest man.

[Cipher]

Racism.

Dr. Uiro is a stand-in for the American upper-class. He's slept for decades and is shocked to wake up in a world in which the old white man has been surpassed.

When Goku fires a Kamehameha at the scorpion robot, that's him trying to rid his world of its last traces of bigotry.

[TheBlackPaladin]

Well, because.............umm..................huh.

I mean, to be fair, he also didn't know about Goku. He didn't appear to be the best researcher. Quite ironic that he kept touting his intellectual prowess.

[Herms]

I could be right or wrong here. I always thought it was because Roshi was the strongest martial artist at the time during which Wheelo was alive.

That is their stated reason: they're aware of Roshi and consider him the world's strongest man because he won the Tenkaichi Budokai 50 years ago. Wheelo's been locked up in ice for the last 50 years, and apparently Kochin's been too busy trying to free Wheelo to notice minor things like Piccolo taking over the world. But it is pretty stupid that they have Piccolo in their custody and yet don't seem to realize how strong he is.

[coola]

Piccolo? They should choose King Chappa

On serious note, it makes me wonder as well, probably because what others said, Wheelo thought Piccolo is some sort of Demon, and his anathomy was way too different, with could result in Wheelo brain damage.

[TheBalishChannel]

Racism.

Dr. Uiro is a stand-in for the American upper-class. He's slept for decades and is shocked to wake up in a world in which the old white man has been surpassed.

When Goku fires a Kamehameha at the scorpion robot, that's him trying to rid his world of its last traces of bigotry.

Thought I was browsing NeoGAF for a second.

[Polyphase Avatron]

He just chose whoever won the Tenkaichi Budokai. If he had emerged a few years later he would have kidnapped Mr. Satan.