I've only played thru once, I never actually beat the game, because the first time I went thru I didn't know you actually needed 3 good groups at the end. (I rarely read walkthroughs the first time thru a game). I ended up quitting because I didn't feel like leveling up the rest of the characters. When I got into the tower, I just thought I could send 1 really super charged group and 2 really half-assed ones, like you can do the rest of the game.

so anyway, what's everyone's favorite/best teams?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you have the following left at the end: (SPOILER) Locke, Terra, Celes, Edgar, Sabin, Shadow, Cyan, Gau, Relm, Mog, Umaro, Setzer, and Gogo (assuming you get everyone)

and how far you level them.