First you have to stop with the "dump" the story... basically it's an opinion.
Second, we discussed the "cards"... It's a design choice, not poor writing.....
Vaan's ribs... yeah, those are freakish
As for Vaan as a character, he's my least favorite. So I can understand people not liking him. But as for Vaan...
As for Ivalice not being well explained.....We both just have to accept we have different taste
Also, I can't remember that scene about the Mi'hen road. I could never bring myself to play FFX-2 a second time (but I have played it completely through) I don't even remember it from the first game? Was it the place with the Shoopuf? Or the one that had Chocobos?