You people sure do get hung up on the most trivial aspect of games. Funny how I hardly ever hear discussions on issues of gameplay mechanics amid the tumult of Square-Enix internet discussions. It is always character model this, voice acting that, belts this, emo kids that.
If I was a SE employee I'd count my blessing for the language barrier filtering the blunt of such rubbish away from my ears. That is, of course, unless the Japanese fans are equally insufferable.
By the by, how about that battle system in FFXII and XIII, amazing stuff, eh? A fresh change of pace from ye old Dragon Quest template "Fight/Magic/Item/Run" chestnut, wouldn't you say? Well, I certainly would.