Funny, I played the same advanced D&D and many other pen&paper RPGs and I still know what makes a great RPG as well. 

And you still are wrong when you say that FF has more in common with Sam and Max than with RPGs. While I remit to my previous post and agree that stats and level ups don't make a RPG, the ability to play out as a character and to influence it does. While FF games are extremely rigid in their structure and character development, they have some parameters from D&D mechanics (which were paramount in creating the JRPG sub-genre) while on the other hand, they have no parameters whatsoever from P&C mechanics, other than P&C games have a rigid structure, but then again, all story driven games have, so that broad generalization wouldn't be effective as a categorization stick.

Mass Effect, as much choices it gives you, it still follows a rigid structure that's pre-ordained and which final outcome is already structured, so no matter your choices, you'll get one of many multiple endings, a factor that has been seen in other computerized RPGs and even RPGs (heck, even the most recent FF has multiple endings based on choices too). So by that definition alone, wouldn't you also say that games like Infamous also categorize as a RPG, given that you also have choices and you also play the part of a character that you grow to a certain outcome? 

If you want to restrict the categorization of RPGs to similar parameters as pure pen&paper RPGs, few, if any, computerized RPGs could meet those standards, because in the end, none offer you true freedom over your character development and story structure. At best, you can say that some games follow the RPG standards more closely than others, yet that will always fall into a biased comparison. For example, while you say that Mass Effect is closer to a true RPG than FF, I'd say that not even Mass Effect comes close to giving you a true RPG experience as an Elder Scrolls game gives you for example.

Have to say I agree with your post.  I was actually thinking down this line as well.

VG's cant ever give us an actual Role Playing experience as Role Playng is intended. Because of the nature of non human on the fly Dungeon Master. Further to that although character creation has become much more provident and briliant it is still set in the parametes of the game and not human mind. 

Going back to my FF Point and Click statement. Thinking about that further, Final Fantasy has taken on several changes. in reference to what I deem FF to be point and click would be FF7 - 9. These PS1 era games were abundant in talking to certain people, finding certai objects to useon certain part to move forward. ESsentially these titles were little more than point and click adventures with a battle engine. I loved them for what they were, but  still remember playing thinking why the hell do VGers refer to these games as Role Playing. 

Stats themselves arre actually present in every genre of videogames and are used to guage how much damage is inflicted with whatever weapon or armour you are using. Call Of duty is governed by the same stats that Skyrim is, albeit with less variables. But although invisible in COD these stats are the same. 

In effect Role Playing is what it is playing the role of a character, which largely is every story driven game out there. 

For me the definition Role Playing Game in a Video Game world should only be given to titles which have character creation, morale choices ( this is important ) and a certain amount of freedom.

Do I think games like Final Fantasy or Grandia or Icewind Dale are RPG's? No. They are adventure games where the player guides ( not plays )  a character designed by someone else ( not me ) through a world and story where I have no effect on the moral choie of my party, who lives or dies or whether I should take specific job offer.

Does that mean they suck? Hell no.

I point all this out why?

because comments like Mass Effect is no longer an RPG imo are absurd.

ME2 had more role playing elemets than ME1.  

Am I glad I tried this demo or what?! Now I'm more sure than ever about my decision to not buy this until it's less than $20 this coming holiday season.

The gameplay itself is decent but I totally disliked the direction they've taken with trying to make the gameplay more cinematic in nature. The assets in the first mission appeared incomplete at best and up to ME2 level in the second mission (I'm aware this is a demo and this isn't finalized code or art). The writing - well I'm not sure if anyone else noticed it, but I felt a pretty big drop in the quality of dialogue between the past two titles and what this demo showed.