I agree, since this game was supposed to be a throw-back, you'd think they'd try to weave more relevance for the characters into the plot like they did with FFIV and VI. But since the main four or five characters pretty much carry the game, you don't really need to think about the left overs that much. If they weren't there the game would still be just as fun. It just seems like a waste to have them there and not do much with them, story-wise. Especially when everyone but maybe Quina has so much potential for character development and stuff