i think sephiroth was kinda cool...he was so powerful in his early days (the flashback just after leaving midgar) that he didn't know his place in the world, didn't even care. then later he discovers some bits of the truth and goes on a rampage...he impaled the midgar zolom not to inspire awe or fear, seeing as how he probably didn't know anyone would even get across the marsh to find it...it was just something he did, like...i don't know, killing dragons in a couple of moves (see again the flashback) this was a plot device to inspire some kind of fear or admiration for this living legend in the game world. just because he did an evil thing by sneak attacking a girl who can't fight her way out of a wet paper bag doesn't make him a wuss, it makes him evil.