Honestly, I think it's because anyone who played III/VI at the time of its release finds it impossible to believe that anyone could prefer VII based on anything other than technology.  Since the technology argument no longer stands today, it becomes even less believable than ever.

Going from FFI to FFII to FFIII showed a marked improvement in each game, with III being an absolute masterwork (though some do prefer the story and characters in II).  Going from III to VII was a step down in almost every way imaginable.

 You're not alone Soriku,I really like and enjoy FF8 too,my third favorite one behind FFVI and FFVII,the most common reason of why people hate FFVIII it's because Square focuses in a "mature theme" with love guiding the history,but the game does not was bad at all,the GF,the whole "garden"theme,the beautiful music,the damn secrets ......the only complain I have with FF8 was the final boss,Ultimecia don't look as kick-ass as many other FF's last bosses,but the game is very great.

And we cannot forget that in the famitsu list "bets 100 games of all time" that they made in 2006,the readers of Famitsu put FFVIII in 22° place -even above the most loved by Nazna FFIX-,FFVII?in second place,did your remember?

I disagree with almost anything you say about FFVII Naznatips,but like you say:opinions are opinions and these differ each other ;)

Except that pretty much everything people commonly dislike in FFVII is found in FFVI in some form.

Well did it ever occur to you that it's your opinion and someone might possibly disagree? That could be possible.

There are plenty of people that have played FFVI before VII and still prefer VII and vice versa. There are also plenty of people that played FFVII as their first RPG and prefer other RPGs to it. The 'first RPG' argument is so incredibly stupid...

People just like FFVII. No need to go out of your way to make up a reason as to why their opinion is inferrior to your own. And this is what I meant when I say people go overboard to hate on the game. Making up tons of foolish excuses as to why an FFVII fan doesn't have a valid opinion or only likes FFVII because he or she is too ignorant or stupid to know better.

@Edouble24:

I was just trying to offer an explanation as to why that argument comes up. In my own personal experience, I've never met anyone who played VI before VII and preferred VII, but as you say, it's all a matter of opinion. What I meant is that people seem to struggle to find a reason that such a preference would be the case, and the "first RPG" argument seems a possible conclusion.

Well sorry if I responded harsh, I just really think that the 'first RPG' argument is the dumbest thing ever since it only applies to one RPG. Just sounds like people making up excuses to try and bash FFVII and/or it's fans.

oh and I have played FFVI before FFVII, FFVI was the first FF I've completed and second that I've played. So now you've met someone that has played FFVI before FFVII and prefers VII. Unlike most FF fans I actually love both games and don't feel the need to hate on the other just cause I like one better. Both are pretty much the pinnacle of the genre(along with Skies of Arcadia) in my mind. 

I'm not really properly equipped to make a complete judgement on VII anyway; as mentioned, I didn't find it interesting enough to play more than a few hours in during several separate attempts.

@Edouble24:

Your profile ID is the number immediately after mine. Holy crap. :)

Also, one more reason that the "first RPG" argument comes up is that it WAS the first RPG for many, many people. The FF series had only limited success in North America prior to VII, and as such millions of people had their first exposure to the genre with VII.

In the following weeks I will be playing through FFI - FFVI hopefully.