I'm really not equipped to make the argument (I'm kinda with you on this one) but if I had to guess, I'm sure every basher in this forum will come out the woodwork to point out how spikey hair, androgyny, belt buckles, and melodrama/teen angst are the aesthetics they place the blame on Nomura for.
I think you're right though about him doing more work on FFVI than FFXIII, which I'm sure will really set off the fanboys![]()