It really is.
I spent a long time hunting for Chocographs. I wanted to see if it was possible to get the Gold Chocobo before the Hilda Garde III. Partly in an attempt to see if I could and also because I wanted to see if I could reenter the Desert Palace xD Apparently not. I forgot which Chocograph I needed to do to upgrade from the Ocean Choco and got told I couldn't find any more in Chocobo Lagoon take two. So I hunted for all the Chocographs and did all the cracks and whatnot to no avail. It did, however, mean that I got some nice equipment. Before entering Oelivert I also levelled up Amarant, Eiko and Freya.
Just entered Mt. Gulug with a party of Zidane, Vivi, Steiner and Freya. The latter is excellent at the moment. I've unequipped Dragon's Hair at the moment to teach her Six Dragons. Why on earth do I bother?