lordxRasler: about Rasler's role (big spoiler, you've been warned) (SPOILER)Rasler does play a huge role during the game. From the moment she reappears as part of the Rebel, er, Liberation Army, you can tell his death has had a huge impact on her, which adds a lot of depth to her character. He also does appear as a ghost to Ashe at crucial times, which plays a important role in her decisions. It's really a pivotal aspect of the story, both by his appearances, and through symbols, like her wedding ring. Oh, and there are flashbacks of him and Ashe as well.

I don't want to spoil even more of it, unless you really want me to, LOL

And I completely agree with you, Vyx, that first event is really major to set the tone and themes of the game, and it's probably the most "serious" story Square has proposed since FF VI, IMO. Vaan is the character that kind of is your eyes and ears, and is at the beginning about just as clueless as you about what's been going on behind the curtains, so to speak. He does remind me of Tidus some in the sense that he's the young, blond, cheerful team member, but there is more to him than that. Since you can choose your team leader as you explore the game, and that (SPOILER)he doesn't play the main role in most events in the story, it makes him a lot more bearable