SOLIDNSNAKE
ContrabassClarinetist
Dude, Tifa would look awesome if she had the right armor. I don't like that people think of women as eye candy for video games; it's demeaning.
I don't think the issue is that it's demeaning to the characters, but to women in general. Maybe it's subconscious, but to an extent, I think people do take their views of characters and transfer them to women in real life.
Not to an extent that I think it's worth sacrificing aesthetics, though. I reiterate that I really don't mind revealing outfits, as long as their whole purpose isn't to be revealing. I don't mind most character designs; really the only ones I have a problem with are some specific dresspheres.
Also, as for what you said? Rikku, eh, maybe. She's at least got a kind of playful personality that does lend itself to some of the crazier outfits. But come to think of it, Paine is actually probably the worst offender. I just do not see her as the type of person who would willingly wear this under normal circumstances. Even her freaking White Mage outfit has to go and show her stomach. Looking at that, it honestly does not look like a purely design choice to me; frankly, I think it looks stupid.
