I do not know how you cannot like ff9. I personally find it one of the best final fantasy games. I love it's storyline and the graphics on the FMV where they do not try too hard to make the people look ralistic but to make them look...well, Japenesy. I think this is a cool effect and it makes me far more interested in the game.
I think the gameplay is perfect. Not too hard but not too easy. It has long gameplay durability due too chocobo side quests and card games. I think if you should be cursing any final Fantasy game it should be VIII as it hasa crappy storyline and hard not too mention confusing ways of training. For instance, drawing magic?! I much prefer the simple ways of life with equipping weapons and growing levels. I'd much rather a great story line and easy game than a crappy storyline with an annoyingly frustrating game where the story line does not seem to go any where. Also I like the games where it does not seem to happen in real life. When life was not all guns and blasting each others heads of but a game with magical beings and summons. Surely if the game is too hard you would not want to play on it any more becuse you are stuck and bored. That is how i feel about 8 however in 9 it has an everchaning twisting storyline rather than blowing on guy to bits with a sword that shoots bullets. (i never knew how that would work.) But here in the U.K. we like things different and unusually. You are the weakest link goodbye!