I think I misunderstood your opening argument. I wasn't trying to say VI's system was boring, or ignoring their other advancements. But those were evolutionary. When you say experimental, I was trying to think of its more revolutionary aspects. And the story may have been an evolution, but it was so far beyond what anyone else was doing at the time, I think it's fair to call it revolutionary in both story and character portrayal and development

But yes, they definitely refined the styles they used to a new degree as well. Art, animation, battle mechanics, and above probably anything else, music. I just didn't see them as an experiment