I HAVE to get Locke. Because he steals Ribbons galore from the Brachiosaurs. Other than that, I don't know, but I have to confess I usually end up getting everyone just for the sake of it, even people I never use like Umaro.
I always get everyone, simply because I want to get the most out of the game. Is there anything wrong with that? At the end I usually leave Gau and Mog on the airship.
...
I always have to get Terra. She normally has the most MP by the final boss and can just completely obliterate it with Ultima and Quick. I find Shadows only usefulness is within the Floating Continent.
I always have Umaro on the frontlines going into the final battle.
I never use him much after I get lots of characters, but I'd feel incomplete without him in my airship.
I couldn't bring myself to leave Shadow behind, the guilt would kill me. I don't usually use him in my main party, though.
Your boyfriend should start over and he should be ashamed of himself. Dump him.
I think I've used Shadow once as part of my main party, but I don't usually go out of my way to use him. I do, however, always save him. I like to have all the characters in games that I play (this is particularly evident in Fire Emblem games) and I'd just feel a bit annoyed to be one short at the end of the game. Plus he's a pretty cool character.
Not my words Carol, the words of Top Gear magazine.
Any character can be invincible with the right equipment.
I feel dead inside if Edgar isn't in my party.
Lacking Edgar and Sabin gives me a very insecure feeling that my party sucks a lot more. Sod Shadow, he's the token "quiet and mysterious" one and for some reason the entire gamer population have a hardon for that crap.
Any character can be invincible, but no character can match the awesome coolness of Shadow
Yes, I really am a Tonberry. Believe it.