"(I think it was the weakest game in the KH series so far, but most of that was because of the gameplay and less because of the story)"

If you mean the weakest game state-wise, then yeah, I agree (from what I've seen of it, Coded seems even weaker due to being heavily limited since it's a cell phone game, but it's doubtful we'll get it here since cell phone games in general seem to be strictly big in Japan.)

"Xion wasn't NEARLY as bad as the promos made her out to be"

Yeah, the promos just kept on focusing on her and making it look like she was completely stealing the game from Roxas. But playing it, I must say the game is definately still Roxas' game, and Xion's just a crucial part of his development.

"and there was plenty in there to counter what could have been nothing but ship bait."

Yeah, Axel saying that love like the Beast's and Belle's is different from love between best friends kind of helps die some of it down.

"But they did flesh out the personality on a few people."

Yeah; Xemnas and Saix were already pretty firmly established in KH2, but Demyx, Xaldin, Luxord and Xigbar were just so...vague, especially when compared to the likes of, say, Vexen, Larxene, and Marluxia. You just didn't get much of a sense of who they are and what they're all about; this game changes that.

"Now Birth By Sleep I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to, holy craaaaap!"

Really, promotion for this game just keeps topping itself. More of Neverland than in KH or 358/2 Days? A freaking Stitch world in outer space? I am SO THERE.