the Sphere grid system. good or bad?

[darkness angel]

after final fantasy 6, the system in leveling has never been the same twice. Though it's become more decided how limit breaks work *seems like they've been extinguished in FF:chronicles and beyond: someone please correct me if i'm wrong*
Just a lil brief on the level systems that I do know *just for anyone who doesn't* lol:
Final Fantasy 1: Go buy your magic and fight for stats
Final Fantasy 4: Levels for stats and magics occasionally beat on a special enemy for a special summon
Final Fantasy 6: Espers for magic and additional stats at level, main stats through basic leveling - "limit break" introduced as critical attack
Final Fantasy 7: Equiped materia for spells and abilities slightly alter stats, levels for stats- limit breaks based on damage and usage
Final Fantasy 8: Junction system for stats, leveling barley helps, junction for magic- limit breaks based on low health used endlessly
Final Fantasy 9: Level for stats, equip armors and weapons to learn abilities- *forgot what limit was called* based on taking in damage
Final Fantasy 10: Sphere grid for stats and magics- overdrive based on differing factors
Final Fantasy: Crystal Cronicles: Stats based on aquiring artifacts at the end of a level and spells also- no limit break that i kno of

[golden_queen_mercury]

When I first played this game and the tutorial to play the sphere grid popped up, I thought "WTF!" This is too confusing, I am never gonna use the sphere grid in this game. Then later on I found out that it wasn't hard to use at all. I would much rather have the level up system though.

[rubah]

what about
FF2: buy magic and smack yourself around for hours and pretend to cast spells,
FF5: buy magic and slowly learn to use it when you aren't dressed to use it+learn abilities through fighting. Get most summons by smacking them around.

FFTA reminded me of FF9 (or vice versa rather) in that you learn abilities from weapons. I always thought that sorta sucked-_-

[Flashback007]

Hmm, I liked the grid-system, altough I tend to run out of certain Spheres and if you miss a few nods on the Sphere Grid then. You are very easily in trouble. I got to miss the nod with which you can steal Speed Spheres. So there goes my speed. Hmmm, I was just glad I got the other "Steal-Spheres"-nods. But on Kimhari's spehere grid I took the wrong turn and ended up on Lulu's sphere grid.