Cloud didn't really defeat Seph in combat. In Crisis Core, you see that first Cloud stabbed him in the back while he wasn't paying attention AFTER Seph just got done with two back to back epic battles with Zack (Who I think actually could've beaten Seph at some point had he not been kiilled by the army. Zack was actually in Seph's weight class, unlike any of VII's party who had to fight 8 on 1 with the advantage of Holy and Lifestream Lasers just to achieve a temporary victory. Zack could actually go toe to toe with Genesis and Angeal, and eventually surpass them, putting him near par with Seph.) Cloud's "strength" here was the ability to not die from Seph's attack. He only managed to overpower him because he was injured at the time, which he wasn't at the end of VII.

Squall was definitely skilled as I said. But even mastering a complicated weapon is negligible in the face of a witch who can bend time over and make it her bitch. I don't care how awesome your sword is, there's no reason for that to be able to compete with being able to play with the fabrics of the universe >.<

All those trance abilities are game mechanics, I'm talking storyline. None of their trances gives them planet smashing power, except possibly Garnets, since we've seen what Eidolons can do in that game. Kuja was already ridiculously powerful, Trance just made it moreso. Zidane never even demonstrated through storyline actions hthat he could've competed with NON trance Kuja, let alone TRANCE Kuja or Death itself.

I don't think Auron DID hold back to be honest. Which is why while Tidus was taking 3 turns to drop sinscales, Auron was demolishing them in one shot, or demolishing like, 6 in one shot just for an Overdrive demo. In terms of game mechanics, yeah, he was hitting low numbers, but in story terms, he was a legendary guardian whereas Tidus was a noob with an above average build due to being an athlete. I doubt if I handed Peyton Manning a sword, his football skills and strength he built up for football would allow him to combat city smashing monsters. Similarly, if not for having a Legendary Guardian next to him, I dobut Tidus would've lived to see Spira. Similarly, I think Wakka and Lulu were also much stronger in terms of story than in terms of game mechanics. Tidus can already outhit Wakka at the beginning of the game, yet Wakka refers to him as a newbie when it comes to fighting. For storyline purposes, I absolutely believe Wakka was stronger for most of the game, until Tidus' experience caught up with Wakka's. By the end, I believe he did surpass Wakka and Lulu, as Lulu acknowledges he's proven himself as a guardian, perhaps even the BEST guardian... but still, if that was all it took to bring down Sin, summoners wouldn't have been sacrificing themselves for the Final Aeon for a millenium. Shit like Operation Mihen would've been enough to put an end to him.

In AC, you can very clearly see that Seph is just ****ing around. Cloud is pissed off, putting everythig into every blow, getting batted around like an insect, thrown against walls and being impaled (intentionally in a non-fatal area). He was giving it his all. His all just wasn't enough until he hit Deux Ex Machina Limit Break.

Before Jecht even went into BFA form, he explicitly told Tidus that he would be incapable of holding back once he changed. Jecht wasn't a villain, he had no reason to lie here.