I keep some normal growth weapons with me that I use for normal occassions. For training, I switch around materia on the douple or triple growth weapons, whichever needs to be trained. But no, I never use the ultimate weapons aside from what you mentioned. Thats why I never used the Ziedrich or anything, because they were no growth materia. I think the ultiamte weapon was designed to fight emerald and ruby weapon, but miss that giant AP bonus? Hell no!!