Good old PAL. We get almost everything later than everyone else, and sometimes great games (Tactics, I'm looking at you) don't even get released out here.

But then, every so often, we get games like FFX, that has extra things put in for us. And, once every blue moon, we get games released here before America's NTSC (Origins I think came out in PAL first, plus a few other games).

And, with Yojimbo's Zanmato, in my game I summoned him every battle, and did most of the things you already listed. Plus, only paid him 1500 gil. After a long time, he started doing zanmato, and eventually, did it 9 times out of 10. Go Yojimbo!