I never got into the whole "FF IX is returning to teh Roots" thing.

I mean look at the massive differences between FF 1 and FF 2.

Then FF IV dropped whole chosing a Job thing in favor of Pre-determined roles in battle.

Hell, every instalment of FF has had some fairly radical changes from the last.

FF IX is just tribute to all the many things from the past FF's, not a game returning to it's roots.

That said, I love it to pieces.