FFVI was my first FF and you always love your first.

Sephiroth was interesting and a pretty good character but I think they went a bit overboard on the whole "cool gothy mysterious but-kicking villan" thing.

With Kefka coolness wasn't an issue, he just plain didn't give a crap and acted accordingly.
I don't really see him as totally evil so much as totally gopher-tossing crazy.

I do think love plays as big a part in FFVI as all the others, just in the opposite way.

Locke, Cyan, and Setzer all lost their loves in one way or another.
Strago apparently did too at some point in the past since he is a grandfather but we never see his wife anywhere.

Terra and Celes never really considered the possibility of it untill now and are struggling to get a clue about it.

Edgar's apparent womanizing suggests that between running a kingdom, secretly working with the returners, and designing machines, he hasn't had any time for love, just quick flings.

It's the lack or loss of love in FFVI that makes it a significant part of the story.