It seems the one who “has a dog in this fight” is you, rather than me or @LoverofPi. Because you’re acting EXACTLY like lots of the people we mock in this thread.
The people you mock here make direct arguments using the source material? Pressing

on that one. I suspect they're more the type to just say opposing points aren't worth listening to, and exist in a bubble like the one I think you've already described. Which is like you, and you specifically.
I can list various points in my favor, and I suspect I should:
I've played the game. I don't think you guys have. That's why my posts discuss the merits and yours do not.
I already volunteered what my stake/position was, contrary to the claim I'm hiding it. And it's a far less shipperheaded position than you seem to have.
I posted an actual shipper meltdown that's inherently more remarkable.
I confess I have nobody to dickride me, you have me beat there, but I don't need it.
But also
@LoverofPi says he's "just describing people changing their positions", which I haven't done at all because I don't take the hardline position either way. So even the dickriding isn't that good.
Anyway, Tifa gets metaphorically pumped and dumped unless you just ignore Aerith in addition to pursuing Tifa herself. The reasonable explanation is that she's more popular and so her content gets more fandom content. But if you play the game she's obviously not the focus, hence why there's the narrative dissonance if you go for her.