I really want to like Squall, but he mostly just ends up bugging the trout out of me.

I think that if we were to see more progression of his character spread evenly and consistently throughout the game instead of it happening in stunted growth spurts, I would probably like him more. I may not be properly remembering the storyline, but I feel like he's completely dehumanized until the party splits and he decides that he needs to go save Rinoa from Abel/Esthar. After that, it continues a little bit up into space and whatnot and then ...? Where? Where does it go? I feel like that small window was the only glimpse of human emotion and pretty much the only time you got to see some real character progression and by then, it was too late in the game and I didn't care. I feel like he's far too focused on "the mission" and "the duty of SeeD" and that's boring because not everyone can relate to that.

Additionally, as cheesy and out of place as the orphanage/GF business was, he had almost no reaction to it and that bothered me because that trout would have messed with my braaain.

I think that his character demonstrates the ability to be a strong leader but not a great protagonist. I found myself unable to relate with his character for most of the game because he is excruciatingly robotic and logical and I am more of a FEEEEELINGS person.