From a dramatically artistic story standpoint I would have preferred them to remain dead. Even Palom and Porom. People who've sacrificed would have had more meaningful and profound sacrifices. And like Oddler pointed out, it completely negates the events in the end battle where you feel like your friends are supporting you and helping you with their last powers from beyond the grave. Their spirit is lending you one final effort to save the world, their final act to help the world they left behind before they move on. And nope. They're just in the background clapping their hands and siphoning energy to you, DBZ-style

As for it being like every other FF, I figure that's a good thing. Because not a lot of English-released JRPGs had much permanent deaths at the time. And the ones that did generally only did it to one playable character. Not half the cast. In fact, right now I can only think of games that did it to just one character. And in that regard I would have applauded the game for being so ballsy and different. Dark and mature. That's respecting your audience in my opinion. But with people coming back from the grave as if nothing happening is basically "Just kidding, Santa really does exist. Don't cry, Timmy."