Grinding, a huge part of what people love about Awakening, began with Gaiden. So did multiple promotion paths, reclassing (though only for characters in the Dread Fighter class), and three tier classes. A more minor example, but undead monsters as enemies (instead of the usual human armies) was taken from Gaiden into Sacred Stones and Awakening.
Dunno why you're so hostile to me just because I like a game you don't and I think every other feature from the game compensates for its bad map design, but oh well.
I'm not sure where you're reading my tone, lol.
I don't really consider 'grinding' being something that 'began' with Gaiden because that's such a nebulous concept to apply and say that this never would've come about without this title explicitly. Especially when Gaiden's brand of 'grinding' is rather unlike Awakening in that most people don't actually enjoy it. I'll acquiesce to some other points (namely reclassing), though will again remind that correlation is not causation.
All I'm really addressing here in the end is that you quoted someone who said Echoes has bad map design. Then you say it's still better than newer map design (which still has its' DNA in how IntSys has been designing these games since the GBA), then you further elaborate your point by saying that your issues stem from everything
outside map design. Then you admit that Echoes has bad map design. As far as positions go it's kind of hard to follow, and I probably wouldn't have bothered responding if your later posts reflected your first one.
Once you get past the pageantry though, FE is so inherently streamlined a game though, I see map design as its' most crucial differentiator in what separates it from just okay SRPGs to truly great ones. And clearly, you disagree. I don't feel that's worth pursuing as an argument since presentation is not something everyone will agree on and I won't fault people for feeling it's important - it is for me, too. Just that people are conscientious of what truly changed about the series.
This is pretty tame guys.
I get that some of you can't handle the direction Fire Emblem has taken since Awakening, but calling it a game for "anime perverts" is hilarious and hyperbolic.
The hostility some people are displaying to anyone who still likes the newer games is extremely silly, yes.