One sign (other than the blatant sticking of Cloud and Sephiroth at the top) of lame fan-catering on that list is the lack of II and III characters, probably because IGN is well aware of the fact that not very many fanlings know/care about them.

While Desch from III isn't the coolest character by any stretch of the imagination, one could probably argue him into a 25-20 ranking if they tried. And what about Leon from II? You just don't SEE moral conflicts like that in games anymore! Nowadays (SPOILER)traitor-friends are always controlled by the "enemy's magic" or TEH DARKNESS wich CONTROLZ DER HEART!!11 :rolleyes2 Yes, Riku, I'm looking at you.

I'm not even that partial to V, but I can tell you that the exclusion of Galuf and Gilgamesh spells utter failure as it is.