Yep, FFVII got spoiled for me, too. I remember it well.
My friend and I were on a ski trip. He was much further in the game than me and the two of us were talking about it. As we went up the ski lift, he asked what I thought of it so far. I told him it was really cool and that I wanted to Cloud, Aeris and Tifa as my final party. He started off by saying, "You shouldn't really rely on Aeris. She doesn't pull her weight when the end of the game comes around." Eventually, by the time the ski lift was nearing the top of the hill, he couldn't hold it any longer and told me why not using Aeris in my final party was such a good idea.
I was livid. Not only at him, but also as the game. Of course, I wouldn't have the game play out in any other way.