Concept wise I prefer the blue, developing power through monster tactics has a "ends justify the means, be as the enemy" feel to it.

Redmages are like D&D bards blah.

Power wise it depends greatly on the level and what they're exposed too. If you fight often more then likely your blue mage will have some good tricks up his or her sleeve, if you got some gold and a little common sense you can make a decent red mage to kick some monster copying butt.

Time consuming wise the red mage is better, but the blue mage is more promising if given the oppurtunity to excell. Unfourtanatly time is something most people don't have. So where as I see me WANTING the blue mage to win, more then likely you'd be better off red and thus the jack of all trades has just been kinged.

Glad i'm black.