Blitzball-Shows itīs a very bad idea to mix football and rpg.
What is the fun in trying to escape from a bunch of adversaries and then comming to a halt just to calculate some statistics?
When I play football on pc I like to run with my players non-stop doing fast decisions,not halting and thinkng on statistics.
On blitzball you keep running,stopping,running,stopping.This gets boring.
I prefer a million times the Triple triad(which is still boring.I prefer ff9 card game).

Concerning FF12 I think it is hated by rpg hard-core fans which play them since childhood and likes to keep doing battles.
People like me who grew with platformers and FPS would love it.
To me,the gambit is a minor issue when compared with the gameplay,graphics,3D imersion and storyline.
People complain but one STILL needs to THINK on the gambit order,so it is not lazy.It is pre-strategy.