I dunno...I really do pertain to the camp that does more to believe that grinding is an out-dated mechanic for games, just like random battles.
Case in point: Dissidia - Final Fantasy.
I will openly admit that, after the time I spent with the game, it really does more to feel like a lackluster "fighting game". But the biggest thing? Grinding. WHY do I have to grind, just to be able to complete my dude's moveset and get cool stuff for him, so that he can be "competitive"?
And it's not like they have a sort of "World Tour/Campaign" (think Street Fighter Alpha 3 or Soul Calibur 1/2's mode), where this sort of crap can be reserved for those who have the patience, or actually DESIRE this type of thing, leaving normal people who just want to fight on an even plateau alone. No, you are FORCED to grind (or exploit the "glitch" that's available), if you want to do more to see everything the game has to offer.
That, in the end, was what really made me drop Dissida like a bad habit, and plenty others followed suit because of similar reasons.
I'm praying, for the love of all that's good, that Tales of Vs. handles this entire thing better, if it MUST have grinding that's unavoidable part of playing the game. But I would much rather have a World Tour/Story Mode for this type of thing, and let me and my friends just kick-ass in a "plain fashion".