the main reason they didn't implement this battle system long before is because the scale of final fantasy games could not handle the addition of such open-ended fighting. They would have had to scale back the graphics and the size of the worlds, and nobody would want that. I think this battle system is the culmination of final fantasy evolution, or at least the home stretch. The battle system can obviously be improved in many subtle ways, but once they're finished with it, I think it will be great. Random battles make absolutely no sense anyways.
The monster stands and watches as you smack it senseless.
Then you stand and watch as it smacks you senseless.
It's just silly. An active battle system requires your attention and thus pulls you deeper into the game. Makes so much sense to have a Tank, Melee, Mages, and Ranged fighters all moving around exploiting the differences in Defense and Strength and Magic ability. Wait til you play it people, you'll love it.
And might I suggest playing FFXI, the BEST GAME OF ALL TIME(ignoring of course the UBER BEST GAME OF ALL TIME FFVI)