Who was the better?

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I believe his lack of moving on from his guilt and not accepting his past makes him a failure, in the category of being hero. A hero is not someone who is just strong and powerful, but also can put hope in people and make them feel that it is worth pushing on even when it is impossible. Cloud still acting his same gloomy way after saving the world comes off almost as if it wasn't worth it. Atleast to me it does.

This is why Advent Children doesn't count. Cloud became a ray of sunshine once he figured himself out in FFVII.

He rallied the party before the final boss by saying, "Let's mosey."