I think it's pretty good. Most of it's flaws wouldn't be considered flaws back in 2000, when the game was being developed.
Perhaps Tidus and Wakka definitely weren't very likeable characters, but yeah, that's it.
As for the scenarions being too linear, I guess the developing team wished to play it safe with the new hardware, and the focus all along was on mirrorring the story themes of the last "serious" FF, which was FFVIII.