I don't know about anyone else, but I was absolutely STOKED about not having random battles. Granted, that is a major change from every other final fantasy in the series, but what's a game series without a little change from every other one?

That's why I like XII over X any day. X holds your hand through the whole game until you get to the final boss. Then you're able to do your sidequests, and by this point in the game, everything you work for is basically useless because you'll be way overpowered when you don't need to be.

And in XII's defense, FINALLY a game where you have to take a little time to defeat a sidequest boss. (Yiazmat) I'll gladly take the 7-10 hours to beat him, unlike FF VI where as soon as you learn Vanish and Doom, you've just beaten the game.