People on LUE were discussing FF8 and how to get through without leveling up 'cause it makes the game harder or something. I knew that monsters got stronger as you did, but I didn't know it made the game HARDER. I leveled up as much as I could (though I didn't do that much grinding, from what I remember), but I didn't go out of my way to avoid getting EXP.
I leveled up, and I found the game pretty easy, as long as I abused limit breaks (kept Squall in critical status [yellow HP], cast Aura on him, make him blind, mash Triangle 'til the Limit Break popped up, then Renzokuken'd the monsters' asses! Then if you're lucky, BAM Lion Heart!). And there was Zell's "keep doing Punch Rush and Booya over and over and over again" Limit Break. I pwned that game pretty easy. It was the first FF I ever beat.