I pity da foo' who don't be respectin' da Bare-It.

Or something.

Barret's a good guy; he's been though a lot of pain and loss and anger, and his fight wasn't always for the right reasons... but he's honourable and decent, too. (SPOILER)I liked the way the game forced him to confront the horrors of his own past, and also the horrors he caused.
Great back-story - Marlene, Dyne, Corel, Shinra... he's a great character, in my opinion. Not a perfect person, but then who is? An imperfect hero is the best kind.