On my first playthrough of VIII, which was also basically my first RPG game...period, I junction whatever magic I had to whatever stat. I didn't bother stockpiling magic, and I didn't bother checking what junctioned well to what stat.

But ya' know, it would be cool to go back through all of the FF's as if for the first time. We've been waiting so long for XII, I miss the total immersion that happens when I get into a new story, new system, etc.