While reading through your earlier points, I began to ponder thoughts and conclude that I was gonna post a straight argument, defending this wonderful game, but some of your later sentences do make sense. I understand what you mean by how much potential this game had install, and how they didn't capitalize on their chance to make it one step better than previous Final Fantasy games.

Your point about Vayne was something I couldn't agree with, because the threat was not only from Vayne, but also because of how other supernatural doings were occurring at the time. The Occuria, nethicate, manufactured nethicate and other odd things were all suddenly happening at the time. As you browse through the towns, and occasionally make conversation with the civilians they certainly are worried for the future of Ivalice, and begin to fear the empire. It's also effective how you don't personally meet Vayne until the end, and how you keep your distance, slowly making your move as the resistance. The cutscenes are dealt with wistfully, as they show what's happening on the good side, and also the goings on the evil side. It's an authentic way of portraying how both sides are getting closer to their goals, and are also reaching closer to another. So I would consider that a unique way of distant interaction.

I'm not gonna run through the emotions of each character, but I believe they all felt some anxiety as they knew what huge mission they were taking on. They just didn't want to show it, and most of the party are tough, and have robust exterior, and I'm basing from the amount of background I extracted from them, while playing through the game. I would say they were much more mature than other FF parties.

I guess you could say that Vaan and Penelo were there for the ride, but it was their choice to either depart from the main party in Bhujerba (Be left in unknown whereabouts) or help out the team while they were in this tricky predicament, and maybe Balthier and Fran had cemented and unrecognizable deal with the two; a way of showing trust for their helpfulness in battle, or just not ever feeling bothered to prize them away from the mission itself. All in all, it never concerned anyone why the two youngsters from Rabanastre pursed the journey. Who knows? Maybe it was for self-enjoyment.

There were a lot of memorable quotes in this game, and I would say it's many transgressed from hunts or listening closely to interactions with judges. I think XII had one of the best pieces of dialog, and the olden text was a big factor for me, in actually liking the game. The passionate personalities from the judges, but sometimes wavered from slyness, deceitfulness and loyalty. A very good mixture.

Overall the game is fantastic, but it depends on the person's taste for gaming, and whether it fits their idyllic agenda.