It looks pretty ;)
Most of your points are valid except for the story and combat.
Combat might seem boring to you for a veteran of RPGs but it is still a very good spin on the old ATB. It s fluid and looks great. Also without grinding and meticulously planned paradigm builds combined with perfect timing you won't be able to win the hardest battles.
And as I told you, the story is just as stupid and contrived as any other FF story. At least it is something new *looks at any WRPG*. You obviously put great effort in finding something to nitpick. If you would care to give that treatment to any other FF game you will see how "flawed" FF is as a whole.
Yet that still didn't stop people to love the series.
Maybe it is because people don't care about the points you find so appalling and instead are focusing on the good stuff like the spectacle and the chance to explore a new world and characters.
If you demand respect or gratitude for your volunteer work, you're doing volunteering wrong.
