I think that disliking this game because gunblades are improbable and impractical is a bit silly. It isn't reality. Throughout VIII there was this dynamic between reality and fantasy, and I quite liked it. Although I doubt anyone here would be that shallow.

Don't get me started on R=U. All I will say is that just because something is possible, does not mean that you can accept that it has any merit. There are so many flaws in the theory, it is a joke.

VIII definitely does have some dumb and implausible moments, but so do most stories. Go read Lolita or Madame Bovary or any great piece of fiction and there will be some seriously suspect circumstances. My favourite one in VIII is that Garden floats towards Fisherman's Horizon.
a) What are the odds of it floating towards that exact location &
b) What are the odds that the place it lands will be full of ex-Esthar scientists?