Something else to consider: the number of points you earn after each stage depends on the "handicap" you get hit with after each reel. If you get "Lucky 7" or "Full-Cure", you won't get that many points. If memory serves, "All Materia Broken" yields the most points, so try to get that only if you can stand to survive it. But as anyone will tell you, your best bet is to use Cloud, and you MUST use a Ribbon.