Phew, finally caught up.

I'd have thought it best if you couldn't reach 100% in one run with either of them. It'd have the implicit effect of stopping people from doing such a stressful run their first time, as it just turns a game of fun exploration with a ton of secrets and eastereggs to be found into an annoying grind. Besides you can reach more than 100% anyways, it'd have been fine if you just needed to actually see everything (both YL and NY side) to get it maxed out.

The Youth League are such assholes sometimes. New Yevon aren't great either but they're not THAT bad. Plus it's convenient to give the sphere to New Yevon anyways since it gives you access to two Garment Grids you can't get otherwise, and you don't have to fight random guards in the final Chapter 2 mission. New Yevon all the way.

I never really cared for Gunner's Gauntlet until I played the Remaster where I maxed it out for the trophy and Adamantite. I find it interesting how it has you regulating the spawn rate of enemies by how far forward you advance in the waterfall section. Too far forward and you get overwhelmed, too far back and you lose out on points. But besides that it's not really the most engaging of minigames. Just a fun little distraction.

smurf yes Psychic. Such an awesome dressphere. It's main fault is a lack of strong offensive moves (although Teleport + Time Trip + 2x Maser Eye is nothing to sneer at), but that can be made up for. Especially with the stupidly powerful Samurai's Honor GG you get around this time.

I vote Songstress Yuna, Gun Mage Rikku and Psychic Paine. Although there's probably not much fighting next episode.