How do you prefer to level up?

So which style of "leveling-up" do you prefer? Earning levels like in most Final Fantasies, or powering up individual stats like in FF2 and Final Fantasy Legend 1 & 2.

I don't really mind using either, although stats give you more control over how your character grows, so you can make them grow to be more suited to how you play e.g. I'd stick most of the extra stats onto defence mostly since I don't mind long battles if they're interesting :p

And you forgot FF8 in that stat list, junctioning has a far bigger effect on your stats than levelling up :p

I prefer levels...then you can keep the character as he is(black mage, warrior)
crono_logical, you forgot FF9's abillites