Quote Originally Posted by Allyrion View Post
While I agree they could do a lot more to make the tanks more interesting and interactive, I will disagree with the idea that the tanks of final fantasy are usually the protagonist.
This is true for most(if not all) of the 2D games, so I won't disagree that the precedent is there.
However, none of the FF7+ games have had a tank as a protagonist. I didn't play 12 though, so there might be that.

FF7 - Cloud is a balanced stat character, Barret is clearly the most defensive. If there's a tank, it's Barret.
FF8 - Well, there's really no tank in this game. Squall is not any more defensive than the others. Zell probably has a higher defensive growth, but I haven't looked into it.
FF9 - Adelbert Steiner is the Knight. Zidane is a Thief. No question here.
FF10 - I'm really surprised you could say Tidus was the Tank. Auron's HP growth was insane. He would live through anything that would kill the rest of the party.
FF12 - Didn't play.
FF13 - Lightning is not a tank. Her growth capped as a ravager, she made a decent commando and medic as well. Overall follows the "balanced stat hero" that the 3D games follow. Snow was easily the best Sentinel and a clear tank.

This may seem like nitpicking but it does argue against the dps increase being an iconic tank FF tank trait. Being at the front of the party in cutscenes doesn't make that person the tank since the actual battle didn't push defense on those protagonists while it did on a character next to them..
Nearly every FF protagonist uses a 1h or 2h sword. Especially the ones you named.

The only classes in FFIV that can use 1h or 2h swords are Gladiator and Marauder- the tanking classes.

And the tanks tend to lead the party given we make the pulls and move the mobs to strategic locations.