Let's discuss Cloud's main love interest: Aerith or Tifa

[Ryushikaze]

...the contrast between the two indicates that that Cloud isn't concerned with finding the answers together with Tifa.

Or that Cloud doesn't think Tifa wants him. It's her affection controlling. Not his.

And this is where arguing for ambiguity in 2010 gets.... sketchy... and I'll admit it. The best counters to this, I suppose, are 1) that "different" could be referring to the idea of starting a 'family' with Tifa and others...

What others? And how is starting the family with her not romantic?

2) that not much later in the story, Tifa is still unsure if Cloud has feelings for her, and she can't bring herself to directly ask him if he loves her....and

Much later in continuity, and that very question itself indicates she was at one point sure that he did. You don't randomly ask that question to a sleeping roommate you have feelings for. I mean, that's just Edward Cullen creepy.

3) that Nomura says he has 'no clue' if Tifa and Cloud share romantic interests between FFVII and AC, and that these matters have been been left up for fan interpretation.

A statement that came well before all the other information, from a man known to blatantly lie about upcoming titles rather than give away secrets- KH2 and Namine, anyone?

You're right about the "Cloud is none the wiser to them" statement (which, for the record, applies to Tifa as well as Aerith) ...

I am aware. He becomes 'wise' to these feelings later.

But the statement about Aerith's bond with Cloud is said in an objective sense; it's not about what Tifa feels is going on between them. So a bond exists between Cloud and Aerith, at the very least while she is still living. It is special, different from Tifa's, and causes "complex feelings" within Tifa as a love rival. What kind of bond could it be, then, if it's not knowingly romantic? The best thing I can think of is that it's a subconscious bond of romantic potential, which Tifa can sense by the way Aerith and Cloud naturally act around each other.

Or they're just easygoing with each other in a way Tifa isn't- in a way she actually brings up in her own date- and that's what makes her jealous, even if there's no romance there.
And smeg potential. There's potential on both sides.

Come to think of it, it seems like the 'none the wiser' can only refer to a state pretty early in the game... i don't know.

It applies at least as late in the game as the Gold Saucer dates.

Sorry I guess my statement was worded a little funny, but I actually was saying that "dragging the past around" refers to his guilt, BUT remember what all of the quote says, particularly the last phrase:

"The thing which she is unable to hide in her irritation towards Cloud is the fact that he isn't merely dragging the past around, but because that reason might perhaps be related to Aerith."

So Tifa intuits that the reason Cloud goes to the church isn't merely because of his guilt, because of something else related to Aerith. Put the sentence in context with the section being about the love rivalry, and there you go.

No, it's not just because Cloud feels guilt, but because that guilt has to do with Aerith. THAT'S what makes the feelings toward Aerith complicated. She cherishes Aerith, but hates that her memory is causing Cloud to beat himself up with guilt.
GUILT is always the key word between Cloud and Aerith and also between Cloud and Zack. Talking about romance is not only aparsimonious, it's narratively unsupported. If you want to emphasize love, you don't emphasize guilt and forgiveness, especially from a dead person. Extraordinary claims and extraordinary evidence, after all.