Red magic has its place, too. I found it incredibly useful on the fire ship - in fact, for the fight with Liquid Flame I always make everyone a Red Mage, so they can all cast Ice2, Life, and Cure2. Also, Red Mages are the first step to attaining the ungodly !X-Magic, which is essential for my patented Sublimely Magnificent Quinta-Bahamut Mark III.