I prefer games like the Tales games anyway since they give you more control over all aspects of combat. If you want to hit, you need to actually move in close to strike. If you want to dodge, you better have quick reflexes! Games that leave it all up to chance just annoy the heck out of me since I can't really use my honed skills (ha ha) to affect the outcome of the battle.

Then again, the Breath of Fire (SNES/GB only) games were turn-based but actually pretty fun. I think it helped that the enemy levels were a bit more consistent with a person who spends a regular amount of time leveling. (Nothing drives me crazier than having to spend hours just having random encounters so that I can survive. Gah!)

Sheesh, and now I have to ask, did you ever play the Lunar games? They were pretty much the opposite of Final Fantasy in that you could level your characters as much as possible, but it only made the enemies more powerful, so combat relied more on skill than level. That, and they were more fun anyway. Great characters. ^_^