One of the things I really like about X-2 is that at the end, Yuna basically has a choice of whether Tidus comes back or not, so even though she the plot starts out with Yuna wanting to find her romance, it ends in a place where romance is a choice, but not the choice. Even better, the normal ending doesn't really imply that Yuna is somehow unfulfilled or worse off for not choosing romance (if that's the case).

Yes! Definitely agree with this. I really like the implication of the ending that romance is a good thing, but it's not the only thing.

I have mixed feelings about Leblanc. You have a good point about her earning respect from her goons, and I kind of like her (in a "love to hate" kind of way) during the first two acts of the game: her take-charge attitude, how she charges toward her goals despite all the obstacles. But learning that that her prime motivator is her crush on Nooj (who isn't even shown to take a serious interest in her) colors her portrayal, for me.