You are exactly right, Phoenix. The overall layout of the game is set to be a kind of interactive movie (then again, if FF8 or FF9 could talk, it would be the same thing) with battles and movements and sidequests to get things done. I admit things get more difficult towards the end but overall the game is not that hard to beat. Especially if you take the time to level up your characters.

By default, everybody completes their sphere grid and you sohuld be able to be the game with just that. No hidden aeons, no ultimate weapons, nothing like that. In that case, the game literally is not much longer than that of FF9 (or not much shorter). If you do take the time to level up characters beyond all reckoning, then its no doubt the game is really easy. Many of the sidequests, as Phoenix 17 said, require a lot of "endurance", patience, and being able to cope with frustration when the Malboro in the Omega Ruin always scores a hit on you, or when you get 199 jumps in the Thunder Plains and get zapped, or when that stupid Chocobo refuses to evade that bird which it looks like you missed it by a mile. If you don't mind pulling your hair out, you can do the sidequests, and the weapons are what I believe is too overpowered. If you finish a sidequest, you can make the game embarassingly easy. That's what I feel is the problem with FFX - the rewards for sidequests. 9999 is bad@$$ enough. But for the person who develops 99,999, I can't say that it's not their fault for being disapointed. Coudln't you say you disappointed yourself?