^ I've never really understood the bizarre polarization that seems to exist regarding Tifa and Aerith. Can someone not appreciate and dislike each character based on their own merits and NOT make it a dichromatic situation? I swear it has to have something to do with the Love Triangle.

On topic, the creators said she was slated to die even since the early stages of the game, long before the game was coded.

Any and all 'apologies' against this fact are simply protests by overzealous fans upset at her death.