FFVIII being more challenging than IX? The Junction system is broken, that's why the monsters had to have 65 k hp. There was no other way to get them to last past a single round. I never found the Junction system to be difficult to understand rather I found the system allowed me to build demi-gods from disc one onward. I never died in that game until I met Omega and he died after my second attempt. Not much of a challenge to me. IX was balanced not easy.

Hp isn't everything in a game. I'll agree that Ozmna was more luck than anything but it's not like previous uber bosses couldn't be taken down easily. (Ruby can be taken down in one round with the proper party and materia) Look at Pyrlaster in FFXII, HP wise, he's nothing to really worry about compared to Yiazmet or Omega Mark XIII but the fact he start one hit K.O.ing your characters halfway through the fight makes him one of the nastiest challenges in the game.

As for the debate itself. While I'm one to agree that IX gets alot of it's charm for being a homage I do feel it stands on it's own. I like VIII but I like IX better.