I hated Adel becuase I couldn't use GFs
You don't really need to use GFs for anything but junctioning in FF8. The only battle I can think of where it may almost be necessary is against the Iron Clad when you're in the Missile Base. Quezacotl comes in handy if you picked 10 mins. If you picked 20+ though, you should just be able to use standard attacks to do the job.

I'm still trying to find a place that will make a fully functional replica of Squall's gunblade.
I don't think it's physically possible to have a fully functional gunblade. It just doesn't work...

Yes.. and I love FF8 too.