I noticed you had some frustration with some of those battles. That twin heli boss or whatever is a pain because of the range limitations. But there is a strategy to it and it is a fun battle. Many bosses in that game have unique features like that.
Like I said, I really enjoyed the magic system and the way you could customize your equipment using the various combinations of materia. I though it was really clever and not as limiting as most RPG magic systems are.
Later in the game I loved the free roam nature of it. Yeah there is a linear story path, but at many points you can go do other things for as long as you want. The beginning of the game is very linear in nature and while great doesn't do a good job representing the game as a whole. Once you get an airship later on... man does it open up!
Anyways, I am sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as I did, but I am glad you gave it another shot. Did you doll up Cloud well enough to be picked by the Don or did you get the reject spot?