1. Hope
I agree with you about Hope. People talk about character development in this game, but in the end Lightning is still stoic, Snow is still a dumbass, Vanille is still stupid, and Fang is still overprotective. Sazh does go from suicidal to one of the bunch, so I'll give them that, but the radical change in Hope from start to finish is the best development in the game. People don't like him because he whines, well he just watched his mother die. Any kid will be upset by that, but he eventually gets past it and becomes an inspiration to the bunch. He's also a great healer.

2. Sazh
Sazh is just a cool guy and a loving father so it's hard not to like him. My only gripe with him is that we got too much of the 'I'm getting too old for this trout' attitude during the game. Like Hope he actually develops as a character and we get to see many sides of him.

3. Lightning
Lightning was my favorite at the beginning for her cool attidude and badassery, but her schtick got old after a while and never really evolved. She gets more development in XIII-2 and she's not even a main character in that game.

4. Fang
I have nothing against Fang, she was a cool character and a hell of a fighter on my squad. She joins the cast late which means we didn't get to see enough of her interactions so I didn't really feel connected to her as a character.

5. Vanille
Vanille is stupid. Her grunting is annoying. I'm sick of these 'tee hee' characters in JRPGs and even though Vanille has some interesting secrets it doesn't make up for her overly bubbly personality.

6. Snow
Snow is a dumbass. 'GRR I will protect everyone!' Shut up you big oaf.