Having recently started a new game of FFVIII, I've really grown to appreciate the merits of the Junction system. I think if you know what you're doing when you're junctioning the magic and how to get the most from it it can make the game pretty easy. Naturally to notice the real benefit from that you really need to be drawing 100 of each spell in battles which gets really boring after a while, just depends whether or not you consider it worth it, I suppose. The system itself is nice for a one off. I certainly enjoy using the junction system as a one-off, but overall I prefer MP. Whilst using junctioned magic in battle will decrease your stats and make you have to think that bit extra about whether or not you want to use a certain spell, it is pretty irritating knowing that in a pinch you might need to decrease your stats in order to just stay alive.