I wouldn't say he's necessarily either or. When I was a teenager, I felt more of a connection to Squall than I do now. I actually feel more connected to Zidane nowadays. But while some aspects of his story and personality feel tacked on by the writers, I do feel that there's a deep sense of longing hidden behind his character, emphasised by his past and the fact he just wanted Ellone back. The fact that she left and never came back obviously scarred him to the point where he felt that he HAD to take care of himself and never let anyone help. And I think that Rinoa and the others are trying to break that and get him to open up. Which they eventually do.

His evolution, while slightly rough, is fun to watch. Especially when he, unknowingly, calls his own father a moron on Disc 1. :P