Imperfectionist -we got to remember that FFXII wasn't entirely done by the mainstream FF staff. In fact the heads of the project, as everyone knows, were the staff members behind all the other games set in Ivalice and as such I EXPECTED it to be far closer to the story/music style of FFT and Vagrant Story than to any other mainstream FF game. I actually like the story and music - it keeps some continuity with the world, or rather region, that the games are set in - you still feel like you are in the same Ivalice that Vagrant Story and FFT are set in. A NPC in Archadia even mentions the city of Lea Monde, where Vagrant Story is set.

As to the random battles issue - even S-E ahs admitted that Random turn-based battles are becoming more and more obsolete. The mass consumer audience - which is what S-E is aiming at since they ARE a business, not a fan-pleaser - just isn't interested in random battles anymore.