I agree, FF8 was really very well-written, and conveyed a great story. Frankly, there is no such thing as "too emo". It did make Squall less easy to relate to for many people. But, in fact, that was a slight risk on Square's behalf (though not a huge one, considering Japanese youth culture at the time), and I applaud them for taking it in the name of conveying a true-to-vision story. But it didn't make Squall a bad character, at least not in the scope of FF8. Squall was certainly a believable and well-made character, and his half-hearted apathy was right on the mark for that kind of persona.
I've known people who fit the bill as well - very introverted, allowing their own fear and past trauma to dictate their rational mind, and using a false sense of apathy toward the outside world to rationalize/justify it all. Those people may not be very likeable, but understanding what's at their core, beyond their emo exterior, and hidden (or perhaps even flaunted) trauma/weakness, is important in being able to tolerate and/or empathize with them.
Perhaps, that which causes us to dislike a character for its emo persona, is invoking a little bit of Squall in us in and of itself.
