Guess I'll give my insight...
The battle system in FFVIII was not nice! Drawing 100 magic spells so I can never use them because I want good stats isnt' fun. The Junction system is garbage. Makes the game way too easy.
The GF's are a mystery. Why do they help you? They don't get any gain from it. They don't even have a storyline and play a huge role in the game.
The limit breaks also make the game way too easy. I rarely attacked normally, just used limits. It's not like you're in danger if your HP is low seeing as you have Curaga junctioned to your HP at level 15.
Story was not interesting. Saying it was horrible is putting it nicely. I wasn't dying to see Squall and Rinoa hug and kiss like I was dying to see Cloud and Sephiroth duke it out. Squall was a WUSS! He's a main character with no character.
I gave up on Final Fantasy after VIII, but it's still not that bad of a game I guess. I tried IX and quit once I got out of the first forest. Bo-ring. I saw my friend play FFX and I hated the voices, the look of the characters (cliche/insipid), and the graphics. FFI-VIII is where it is for me!