Hardly a game changer, each iteration of FF has a different magic system. 13 didn't really have MP either. In FF8 you didn't have to draw magic either, if you knew how to play the game GF could learn abilities which allowed you to create magic from items, considering you pretty much always got items after battles, it was easier to change unwanted items (and even cards) to magic instead of drawing it.
I'd say I liked FF6 and 9s best where the magic you learnt was tied to a Summon (6) or weapon (9) you had equiped, not just a linear path like 10 or 13 (13 being the worse created yet, press X to learn magic, no changing roles now, that's too expensive and not worth it, stick to what we tell you to do).
Now imagine this magic system with traditional ATB, that's the best thing they could have done.
Hmm, pie.
