You normally come across one ribbon without specifically looking for them, and a white cape or two isn't hard to find either (they can be bought in stores). If you missed the ribbons, there's still a chance you managed to pick up added effect and hades, which allows for another party member to be immune to lots of stuff. Even if you didn't go down to the downed gelnika, you can still get a party member relatively safe by giving them white cape and an added effect+mystify materia combo.
Sephiroth isn't hard even if you rush through the game, when you know what he's gonna throw at you. It's like they say, knowing is half the battle.
I still don't see anything wrong with my analogy. The game gives you tools to win battles, these tools are armor, weapons, materia and accessories. Modern technology gives paraplegic people tools to move around in the modern world. Not using the tools the game more or less throws at you is just like refusing to use a wheelchair when you can't walk.
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