tbh i think this all depends on how you want to play the game, if you're just wanting the storied experience without the long haul of over leveling then your best bet is not the grind but to use junction, refine and tool's.

As for me i like leveling up and getting the most i can out of the game, i guess as well i have always had this werid thing where i feel much more safer playing the later parts of the game knowing i've leveled up as much as possible not sure why but that's just me and i tend to do that for most RPG's just leveling up to the max.

Also i tend to find in VIII that grinding isn't all that frustration once you reach the islands closest to heaven and hell, it becomes pretty easy.