I can create some extremely overpowered combinations of generics. Black Mage + Draw Out geared for maximum MA can take out most characters at a range of 8 panels. A ninja bare handed can easily do 600-800 damg, and have MP Switch so as to be 100% unkillable on the first attack. You get a whole party together with these and other tricks and it would slaughter a party of specials that are essentially equipped with the abilities of their base class.

I do concede that if you took the effort to set the specials us with thought out secondary abilities that synergize well they would be much better than the generics.

Or to put it another way, the first time I beat the game I had a party of specials. The second time I did it all with generics, but I knew way more about what I was doing and had a far stronger party. This was in turn eclipsed by applying the same knowledge to my specials in playthrough #3.