Because we're being asked not to share our reasoning, my response to the question of Irvine is under the spoiler tags. <3


(SPOILER)Irvine can't be a SeeD, though--he's a sharpshooter, sure, but all SeeDs are stationed at Balamb Garden (And SeeD is specifically defined to be Balamb Garden's mercenaries), and it's the only place to take the field exam.

4.